a pardon granted to a large group of individuals, esp for political offences
a suspension of a law for a fixed period during which no official action will be taken against people who admit to having broken the law, provided they satisfy certain conditions
a drugs amnesty
the period during which this type of suspension of a law is in force
[Greek amnēstia forgetfulness, from amnēstos forgotten, from a-2 + mnasthai to remember]