Other forms: amnesties
An amnesty is an official pardon granted to a group of offenders. Declare an amnesty, a weapons amnesty, an amnesty for deserters.
A weapons amnesty is a period when you may hand something in without being charged, and it is a practical device rather than an act of mercy. The Greek behind it means forgetting, and it is the same root as amnesia — an amnesty is an official forgetting.
1nounamnestyAn official pardon granted to a group of offenders.
“The government offered an amnesty to rebels who laid down their weapons by the end of the year.”
amnesty is a pardon.
Greek amnestia means forgetfulness, from a-, not, plus mnasthai, to remember. Amnesia is the same root.
Ancient Greek
ἀμνηστία
Latin
amnestia
Middle French
amnestie
English, today
amnesty
Middle French amnestie (Modern French amnistie), a borrowing from Latin amnestia, itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek ἀμνηστία.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA