plural amnesties
: a decision that a group of people will not be punished or that a group of prisoners will be allowed to go free
The government gave/granted amnesty to/for all political prisoners.
Illegal immigrants who came into the country before 1982 were granted/given amnesty.
—usually singularThe government gave/granted a general amnesty to/for all political prisoners.
The library declared an amnesty from fines for all books that are returned on Thursday.
Cite this Entry
“Amnesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/amnesty. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.
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