amnesty definition
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia. Related to Amnesty International: Greenpeace, UNICEF, Human Rights Watch. Amnesty International (AI) is a nonprofit, independent international organization that works zealously to protect Human Rights around the world. release from the guilt or penalty of an offense the president of France traditionally grants amnesty to specially selected prisoners on Bastille Day Synonyms absolution, pardon, forgiveness, remission, remittalRelated Words parole; acquittal, exculpation, exoneration, vindication; condonation; exemption, immunity, impunity, indemnity; commutation, ... The definition of amnesty is the act of releasing or protecting a person or persons from prosecution for wrongdoings. An example of amnesty is when the US government lets in a foreign citizen to help protect that citizen from being killed in his own country. With a membership of more than one million people and supporters and donors in more than 140 countries and territories, Amnesty International is the world's largest grassroots human rights organization. Get Slate in your inbox. The dictionary definition of amnesty is not particularly illuminating when it comes to Republicans’ immigration stances. Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, said this: “Amnesty to me is totally forgiving or granting a pardon to people who’ve broken the law.”. The definition of amnesty is the act of releasing or protecting a person or persons from prosecution for wrongdoings. 1  An example of amnesty is when the US government lets in a foreign citizen to help protect that citizen from being killed in his own country. 2  An example of amnesty is when a criminal is told to go free. (ˈæmnɪstɪ) n, pl -ties. 1. a general pardon, esp for offences against a government. 2. a period during which a law is suspended to allow offenders to admit their crime without fear of prosecution. 3. (Law) law a pardon granted by the Crown or Executive and effected by statute. Amnesty International carries out its struggle for human dignity for all human rights victims by mobilizing public opinion throughout the world to pressure government officials and other influential persons to stop human rights abuses. “Amnesty is a forgiveness by definition,” he said, “and there are many different types of that so I’m not gonna get into trying to define it, what other people might think. If you look in the dictionary, it’s forgiveness, you can take it for that.”. Learn More about amnesty. Dictionary: Definition of amnesty Spanish Central: Translation of amnesty Nglish: Translation of amnesty for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of amnesty for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about amnesty.
The act of releasing or protecting a person or persons from prosecution for wrongdoings.