diplomatic immunity

noun

: an international law that gives foreign diplomats special rights in the country where they are working

Note: Under diplomatic immunity, diplomats cannot be arrested and do not have to pay taxes while working in other countries.

Examples of diplomatic immunity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Global impact South Africa plans to offer diplomatic immunity to leaders attending the BRICS summit in August — a cohort that may include Putin, who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. —Claire Parker, Washington Post, 30 May 2023

South Africa is considering offering diplomatic immunity to world leaders — including Putin — who attend August’s BRICS summit. —Claire Parker, Washington Post, 31 May 2023

After the deadline expired without France recalling him, the coup leaders then revoked his diplomatic immunity. —Angela Charlton and Dalatou Mamane, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Sep. 2023

Without the diplomatic immunity conferred on visiting heads of state, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi might be in a real pickle. —Karl Vick, Time, 20 Sep. 2023

But the United States should also remember that a leader facing sanctions is more likely to cling to power (and diplomatic immunity), and Washington should therefore suspend sanctions on leaders who choose to leave office in the face of pressure from their citizens and Western governments. —Foreign Affairs, 20 Sep. 2023

Records show Peterson did not have diplomatic immunity, a privilege meant to protect diplomats and their families from unfair punishment in foreign justice systems. —Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 14 July 2023

At a nearby police station, Tanzanian police tried to give Peterson a breathalyzer test but stopped after a U.S. embassy security official asserted that Peterson’s diplomatic immunity exempted him from such testing. —Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 14 July 2023

Ultimately, South Africa decided to issue blanket diplomatic immunity to all leaders attending, opening the door for Putin to come. —Rebecca Hamilton, Foreign Affairs, 12 July 2023

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Legal Definition

diplomatic immunity

see immunity