amnesty

play

noun am·nes·ty \ˈam-nə-stē\

Definition of amnesty

plural

amnesties

: the act of an authority (such as a government) by which pardon is granted to a large group of individuals The government granted amnesty to all political prisoners. a general amnesty

amnesty

transitive verb

See amnesty defined for English-language learners

See amnesty defined for kids

Examples of amnesty in a Sentence

The government gave amnesty to all political prisoners.
Illegal immigrants who came into the country before 1982 were granted amnesty.

Recent Examples of amnesty from the Web

Why Trump would agree to such an amnesty program is never really explained, because The Fourth Way is entirely an exercise in wish-fulfillment.

— alex shephard, New Republic, "Meet the Trump-splainers", 3 July 2017
Anyone caught with an unregistered firearm outside the amnesty period could face a $280,000 (US$212,500) fine and up to 14 years in prison.

— james griffiths, CNN, "Australia announces three-month gun amnesty", 16 June 2017
He was soon freed in an amnesty when a Medici became pope, but his government career was over.

— edmund fawcett, New York Times, "Machiavelli: Good Guy or Bad? This Biography Argues for the Former", 16 June 2017
Under the accord, rejected in a public referendum but pushed through by congress, the FARC will become a political party and most fighters will receive amnesty after explaining their actions publicly.

— gwladys fouche, The Christian Science Monitor, "After 52 years of war, Colombian rebels lay down arms", 15 June 2017
Found guilty on charges of murder and many other offenses (though not including cannibalism), he was sentenced to life imprisonment but subsequently released on amnesty in 1993.

— chicagotribune.com, "The Madness of King Donald", 14 June 2017
Last year, the El Salvadoran Supreme Court struck down a longstanding amnesty law, a move allowing prosecutors to pursue charges against soldiers who participated in war-time atrocities.

— jeff burlew, USA TODAY, "Fla. grocer revealed as torturer, deported to El Salvador", 9 June 2017
Alonso’s family gained permanent residence status under a Reagan-era amnesty.

— andrew selsky, The Christian Science Monitor, "Oregon's first immigrant Latina state rep advocates for diversity and tolerance", 30 May 2017
Alonso Leon’s family gained permanent residence status under a Reagan-era amnesty.

— andrew selsky, The Seattle Times, "Oregon lawmaker from Mexico assails Trump immigration moves", 30 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'amnesty'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of amnesty

Greek amnēstia forgetfulness, from amnēstos forgotten, from a- + mnasthai to remember — more at mind

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First Known Use: 1580

See Words from the same year

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

AMNESTY Defined for English Language Learners

amnesty

play

noun

Definition of amnesty for English Language Learners

: a decision that a group of people will not be punished or that a group of prisoners will be allowed to go free

Law Dictionary

amnesty

play

noun am·nes·ty \ˈam-nəs-tē\

Legal Definition of amnesty

plural

amnesties

: an act of clemency by an authority (as a government) by which pardon is granted especially to a group of individuals illegal-alien farm workers seeking amnesty — National Law Journal