amnesty international: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal / News / Academic
Quick answer
What does “amnesty international” mean?
A global non-governmental organization focused on human rights, campaigning to end abuses of human rights worldwide.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A global non-governmental organization focused on human rights, campaigning to end abuses of human rights worldwide.
Often used as a metonym for human rights advocacy, research, and campaigning, especially regarding political prisoners, freedom of expression, and injustice.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; the organization's name is identical. Slight potential variation in article usage (UK: 'an Amnesty International report', US: 'an Amnesty International report' or sometimes 'a report by Amnesty International').
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties: associated with human rights, activism, and sometimes political controversy.
Frequency
Equally frequent in serious news media in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “amnesty international” in a Sentence
[Amnesty International] + [verb of reporting/condemning] (e.g., 'Amnesty International reports...')[Amnesty International] + [prepositional phrase] (e.g., '...from Amnesty International')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “amnesty international” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government was Amnesty-Internationaled for its treatment of detainees. (informal, non-standard)
American English
- The report effectively Amnesty-Internationaled the regime's actions. (informal, non-standard)
adverb
British English
- The report was written Amnesty-International-style. (informal)
American English
- They documented the events Amnesty-International-carefully. (informal)
adjective
British English
- She took an Amnesty International approach to the investigation.
American English
- He conducted an Amnesty International-style documentation of events.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) reports referencing human rights audits.
Academic
Common in political science, law, and international relations papers discussing human rights mechanisms.
Everyday
Used in news consumption and discussions about global justice.
Technical
Used in legal and humanitarian contexts detailing specific casework or reports.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “amnesty international”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “amnesty international”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “amnesty international”
- Writing in lowercase ('amnesty international').
- Using as a common noun ('an amnesty international').
- Omitting 'International' when referring to the specific organization.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an independent, non-governmental organization (NGO).
It refers to a pardon for offences, especially political ones, reflecting the organization's original focus on prisoners of conscience.
In informal contexts, sometimes, but 'Amnesty International' or 'Amnesty' (with a capital A) is clearer to avoid confusion with the general term.
Primarily through donations from its global membership and the public, not from governments or political parties, to maintain independence.
A global non-governmental organization focused on human rights, campaigning to end abuses of human rights worldwide.
Amnesty international is usually formal / news / academic in register.
Amnesty international: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæm.nə.sti ˌɪn.təˈnæʃ.ən.əl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæm.nə.sti ˌɪn.t̬ɚˈnæʃ.ən.əl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable - proper noun”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'AMNESTY' for forgiveness of political prisoners, and 'INTERNATIONAL' for its global reach.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LIGHTHOUSE exposing human rights abuses; A WATCHDOG guarding freedom.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary focus of Amnesty International?