10 definitions found

Amnesty AM'NESTY, n. [Gr. of a neg and memory, from the root of mens, mind. See Mind.]
An act of oblivion; a general pardon of the offenses of subjects against the government, or the proclamation of such pardon.

amnesty n 1: a period during which offenders are exempt from punishment 2: a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense [syn: pardon, amnesty] 3: the formal act of liberating someone [syn: amnesty, pardon, free pardon] v 1: grant a pardon to (a group of people)

amnesty noun (plural -ties) Etymology: Greek amnēstia forgetfulness, from amnēstos forgotten, from a- + mnasthai to remember — more at mind Date: 1580 the act of an authority (as a government) by which pardon is granted to a large group of individuals • amnesty transitive verb

amnesty
n. & v.
--n. (pl. -ies) a general pardon, esp. for political offences.
--v.tr. (-ies, -ied) grant an amnesty to.
Phrases and idioms:
Amnesty International an independent international organization in support of human rights, esp. for prisoners of conscience.
Etymology: F amnestie or L f. Gk amnestia oblivion

amnesty (amnesties) 1. An amnesty is an official pardon granted to a group of prisoners by the state. Activists who were involved in crimes of violence will not automatically be granted amnesty. = pardon N-VAR 2. An amnesty is a period of time during which people can admit to a crime or give up weapons without being punished. The government has announced an immediate amnesty for rebel fighters. N-COUNT

amnesty ˈæmnɪstɪ n. & v. --n. (pl. -ies) a general pardon, esp. for political offences. --v.tr. (-ies, -ied) grant an amnesty to. øAmnesty International an independent international organization in support of human rights, esp. for prisoners of conscience. [F amnestie or L f. Gk amnestia oblivion]

Amnesty \Am"nes*ty\, n. [L. amnestia, Gr. ?, a forgetting, fr. ? forgotten, forgetful; 'a priv. + ? to remember: cf. F. amnistie, earlier amnestie. See Mean, v.] 1. Forgetfulness; cessation of remembrance of wrong; oblivion. 2. An act of the sovereign power granting oblivion, or a general pardon, for a past offense, as to subjects concerned in an insurrection.

Amnesty \Am"nes*ty\, v. t. [imp. p. p. Amnestied; p. pr. & vb. n. Amnestying.] To grant amnesty to.

amnesty n. Forgiveness (granted to whole classes of persons), general pardon (by proclamation), act of oblivion, freedom from penalty.

20 Moby Thesaurus words for "amnesty": absolution, exculpation, excuse, exemption, exoneration, grace, immunity, impunity, indemnity, nolle prosequi, non prosequitur, nonprosecution, pardon, redemption, remission, remission of sin, reprieve, shrift, sparing, stay