amnesty

1 of 2

noun

am·​nes·​ty ˈam-nə-stē 

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

2 of 2

verb

amnestied; amnestying

transitive verb

: to grant amnesty to : to pardon (someone) officially often before a trial or conviction

Only last Thursday Mr. Clinton told the U.S. that the generals were responsible for the killings … Now, they are to be amnestied and allowed to remain in Haiti if they so wish.

—A. M. Rosenthal

Traditionally, the incoming president amnesties all outstanding driving offences: during the months before an election people park even more selfishly than usual and drive at unbelievable speeds, knowing if they're caught, they'll be amnestied.

—Richard Horton

Synonyms of amnesty

Noun

• forgiveness
• pardon

Examples of amnesty in a Sentence

Noun

The government gave amnesty to all political prisoners.

Illegal immigrants who came into the country before 1982 were granted amnesty.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For too long, TPS has been allowed to function as a de facto amnesty program despite Congress never intending it to be permanent. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026

The conservative backlash to Lindell’s proposal mirrors the response earlier this year to the bipartisan Dignidad Act, a federal immigration bill that stalled in Congress after Republicans and conservative activists blasted it as amnesty. — Max Grinstein, The Washington Examiner, 24 July 2026

Verb

But conservative critics argue any new legal status would amount to amnesty — pushback that reached a fever pitch online and in conservative media this month. — Emily Brooks, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2026

This is all linked to amnesty and disavowing violence if Hamas people want to stay there. — Mariam Khan, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Latin amnēstia, borrowed from Greek amnēstía "forgetfulness, oblivion, deliberate overlooking of past offenses," from amnēstós "forgotten, forgetful" (from a- a- entry 2 + mnēstós "memorable," verbal adjective of mnáomai, mnâsthai "to be mindful of" and mimnḗskomai, mimnḗskesthai "to call to mind, remember") + -ia -y entry 2 — more at mind entry 1

Verb

derivative of amnesty entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1580, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1802, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

amnesty

noun

am·​nes·​ty ˈam-nə-stē 

plural amnesties

: the granting of pardon (as by a government) to a large number of persons

Legal Definition

amnesty

noun

am·​nes·​ty ˈam-nəs-tē 

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