amnestyam‧nes‧ty /ˈæmnəsti/ ●○○ noun (plural amnesties) [countable] 
The government granted an amnesty for all former terrorists.2a period of time when you can admit to doing something illegal without being punishedamnesty on an amnesty on illegal handguns—amnesty verb [transitive]
WORD ORIGINamnesty
Origin:
1500-1600 Greek amnestia ‘forgetfulness’, from mnasthai ‘to remember’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Congress granted amnesty to nearly 3 million illegal immigrants in 1986.
- Congressmen hope that an income-tax amnesty would encourage more people to pay.
- Mzukwa served just four years of his sentence before being released during a general amnesty in 1991.
- The government has been forced to declare an amnesty for anyone who has not paid their taxes, because there are now too many to collect.
- The President issued a general amnesty to all the rebels, including their leader.
- A general amnesty was granted allowing political exiles to return freely.
- At that time, an amnesty for the holders of illegal guns brought in 42, 725 guns.
- But others say amnesties are unfair to honest taxpayers.
- But they were eventually freed and given amnesty.
- Lacking information, many immigrants mistakenly believed that the law was an amnesty.
- Local authorities could be brought into that and such an amnesty would need Home Office funding and improved publicity.
- Some officials, such as Mr Gavin, urge Washington to consider a one-time national amnesty.
Longman Language Activatorto not punish someone
to not punish someone, or give them a less severe punishment than they deserve: · I'll let you off this time, but don't do it again.let somebody off with a warning/a fine etc (=only give them a warning etc, although they deserve a worse punishment): · He was caught shoplifting, but the police let him off with a warning.
an official order stopping or delaying someone's punishment, especially when the punishment is death: · The group protested against a possible reprieve for an inmate on death row in Texas.grant/give somebody a reprieve: · He was granted a reprieve only a few hours before his execution.
an official order forgiving people who have done something illegal or freeing prisoners - used especially in political contexts: issue/declare/proclaim an amnesty: · The President issued a general amnesty to all the rebels, including their leader.· The government has been forced to declare an amnesty for anyone who has not paid their taxes, because there are now too many to collect.
WORD SETSalarmed, adjectiveallegation, nounamnesty, nounbail, nounbreath test, nouncharge sheet, nouncircumstantial, adjectivecompensation, nouncompensatory, adjectivecomplicity, nouncondemned, adjectivecondemned cell, nounconfess, verbconfession, nounconman, nouncontraband, nouncuff, verbdebug, verbdetain, verbdick, nounenforce, verbfed, nounFederal Bureau of Investigation, nounflogging, nounforensic, adjectivegallows, noungaolbird, noungas chamber, noungibbet, nounguillotine, nounhang, verbhanging, nounhard labour, nounimpeach, verbKC, nounlaunder, verblawsuit, nounleg irons, nounlicensed, adjectivelicensing laws, nounlife, nounlife sentence, nounline-up, nounlynch, verblynch mob, nounpenalty point, nounpenology, nounpolygraph, nounposse, nounprisoner, nounracket, nounracketeer, nounracketeering, nounrake-off, nounransom, nounransom, verbreport, verbreprieve, nounriot, nounshop, verbsilk, nounspeed trap, nounstalker, nounstrip search, nountransport, verbtransportation, nountribunal, nounundercover, adjectivevictim, nounwrongdoing, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The government granted an amnesty for all former terrorists.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
1an official order by a government that allows a particular group of prisoners to go freeamnesty for The government granted an amnesty for all former terrorists.· On July 29 a general amnesty was reported for detainees accused of harming state security.· Following parliamentary ratification, Chissano promulgated on Oct. 14 legislation approving the actual peace treaty as well as a general political amnesty.· The King announces a general amnesty for the country's political prisoners.· A general amnesty was granted allowing political exiles to return freely.· Five days later a general amnesty for prisoners held on security charges was announced.· Some prisoners benefiting from the general amnesty of March 7 had been detained following earlier incidents in October 1987 and October 1988.· Karimov issued a general amnesty, but a rally organized by democratic movements on Aug. 26 was broken up by militia.· After the revolution there was a general amnesty for prisoners and that included criminal elements.
NOUN· A number of crimes were not covered by the amnesty law.· On March 6 a federal judge, Gabriel Cavallo, repealed two amnesty laws that had guaranteed immunity for 1,180 army officers.
VERB· The King announces a general amnesty for the country's political prisoners.
· Congress had granted him another amnesty to contest the 1992 election.· We demanded that every student who took part in the protest be granted amnesty.· In the past, the family has opposed granting amnesty, demanding that offenders be prosecuted instead.
· On July 20, 1999, Pasko was given a three-year prison sentence, then released under an amnesty programme.
The government granted an amnesty for all former terrorists.2a period of time when you can admit to doing something illegal without being punishedamnesty on an amnesty on illegal handguns—amnesty verb [transitive]