protection, as by insurance, from liabilities or penalties incurred by one's actions.
5.
legal exemption from penalties attaching to unconstitutional or illegal actions, granted to public officers and other persons.
Origin: 1425–75;late Middle Englishindem(p)nite < Latinindemnitās, equivalent to indemni(s) without loss (in-in-3 + -demn-, combining form of damn- (stem of damnum loss; see damn) + -is adj. suffix) + -tās-ty2
mid-15c., from M.Fr. indemnité (1367), from L.L. indemnitatem (nom. indemnitas) "security for damage," from L. indemnis "unhurt, undamaged," from in- "not" + damnum "damage."