impunity
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
The state of not being punished or suffering any negative consequences for one's wrongful actions.
Freedom from punishment, harm, or unpleasant consequences; exemption or immunity from the detrimental effects of an action. Often implies a lack of accountability or a license to act without fear of retribution.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strongly negative connotation; almost exclusively used to describe undesirable situations where someone escapes rightful punishment or danger. Often paired with verbs like 'act', 'commit', or 'do' to highlight the lack of consequences for reprehensible acts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning, spelling, or core usage. It is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical negative connotations in both varieties. Conveys a sense of injustice and systemic failure when used in legal, political, or social contexts.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in formal American political and legal discourse, but this is a marginal difference. Common in high-register journalism in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
V + with + impunity (They looted with impunity)N + of + impunity (a climate of impunity)impunity + for + N (impunity for corruption)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A licence to print money (related concept, implying ability to profit without consequence)”
- “Get away with murder (informal equivalent for specific acts)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to unethical practices in a market without regulatory oversight, e.g., 'Monopolies can sometimes raise prices with impunity.'
Academic
Used in political science, law, and sociology to describe systemic failures of justice, e.g., 'The study examines impunity in post-conflict states.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used in discussions of news or politics, e.g., 'It seems like the powerful can do anything with impunity.'
Technical
A key term in international human rights law and transitional justice, referring to the failure to prosecute serious violations.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The corrupt officials stole money with impunity for years.
- Without an independent judiciary, those in power can violate laws with virtual impunity.
- The report condemned the culture of impunity surrounding the police force.
- The peace agreement was criticised for granting blanket impunity to war criminals, undermining the prospects for lasting reconciliation.
- Cyber attackers often operate from jurisdictions where they can launch strikes with complete impunity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
IM-PUNITY sounds like 'I'm punish-free' — the core idea is being free from punishment (pun-ity).
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE IS A NET (to catch the guilty); impunity is a HOLE IN THE NET. PUNISHMENT IS A FORCE (like gravity); impunity is a SHIELD or ANTI-GRAVITY FIELD.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'импульсивность' (impulsiveness).
- Do not translate as 'безнаказанность' in a positive sense (e.g., for bravery). 'Impunity' is never positive.
- The Russian equivalent 'безнаказанность' is a direct and accurate translation, capturing the same negative nuance.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in a positive context (e.g., 'She skied the dangerous slope with impunity' – incorrect unless criticizing recklessness).
- Confusing it with 'immunity' in medical contexts. 'Impunity' is for punishment/consequences, not disease.
- Misspelling as 'impuneity' or 'inpunity'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'impunity' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is almost exclusively negative. It describes a bad situation where wrongdoing is not punished, implying injustice or danger.
It is possible but highly stylised and dramatic (e.g., 'My brother eats my chocolates with impunity'). It is typically reserved for serious transgressions in formal contexts.
The prepositional phrase 'with impunity' is by far the most common collocation, following a verb of action (e.g., act, operate, commit, violate).
'Impunity' relates to freedom from punishment or negative consequences for actions. 'Immunity' is broader: it can mean legal exemption from prosecution, but also biological resistance to disease. In a legal sense, 'immunity' is often a granted protection, while 'impunity' often results from a lack of enforcement.
Explore