impunity

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ɪmˈpjuːnɪti/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ɪmˈpjunɪti/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(im pyo̅o̅′ni tē)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
im•pu•ni•ty /ɪmˈpyunɪti/USA pronunciation   n. [uncountable]
  1. avoidance of punishment:able to steal money with impunity.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
im•pu•ni•ty  (im pyo̅o̅′ni tē),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. exemption from punishment.
  2. immunity from detrimental effects, as of an action.
  • Latin impūnitās, equivalent. to im- im-2 + pūnitās punishment  ( pūn- (stem of punīre to punish) + -itās -ity); see punitive
  • 1525–35
    See exemption. 
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
impunity / ɪmˈpjuːnɪtɪ/ ( -ties)
  1. exemption or immunity from punishment or recrimination
  2. with impunity ⇒ with no unpleasant consequences
  3. with no care or heed for such consequences
Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin impūnitās freedom from punishment, from impūnis unpunished, from im- (not) + poena punishment
'impunity' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
exemption - nemo me impune lacessit

Forum discussions with the word(s) "impunity" in the title:


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