impunity

[ im-pyoo-ni-tee ]
See synonyms for impunity on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. exemption from punishment.

  2. immunity from detrimental effects, as of an action.

Origin of impunity

1
First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French impunite or Latin impūnitāt-, stem of impūnitās, derivative of impūnis “without punishment, unpunished” (from the adverb impūne), equivalent to im- im-2 + -pūne, combining form of poena “penalty, pain” + -itās -ity

synonym study For impunity

See exemption.

Words that may be confused with impunity

Words Nearby impunity

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use impunity in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for impunity

impunity

/ (ɪmˈpjuːnɪtɪ) /


nounplural -ties
  1. exemption or immunity from punishment or recrimination

  2. exemption or immunity from unpleasant consequences: a successful career marked by impunity from early mistakes

  1. with impunity

    • with no unpleasant consequences

    • with no care or heed for such consequences

Origin of impunity

1
C16: from Latin impūnitās freedom from punishment, from impūnis unpunished, from im- (not) + poena punishment

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012