impunity
ɪmˈpjuːnɪti
noun
Origin
Latin
impunitas — exemption from punishment
Overview
Meaning Now
- Exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action.
Literal older meaning
lack of punishment
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
impunite
Earliest period
15th century
Journey
The word derives from the Latin 'poena' (penalty), which is also the root for 'pain' and 'punish'. In Roman legal tradition, 'impunitas' was often used to describe situations where a person could avoid the legal consequences of their actions, often due to lack of prosecution or social standing.
Evolution
- Classical Latin
impunitas
“exemption from penalty”
- Late Latin
impunitatem
“the state of being unpunished”
Accusative case form
- Old French
impunite
“freedom from punishment”
- Middle English
impunite
“lack of retribution”
Borrowed into English around 1450
- Modern English
impunity
“exemption from punishment or injury”
Standardized suffixation
Connections
Word parts
im-
prefix
not
pun-
root
penalty or punishment
-ity
suffix
state or condition
Related across languages
French
impunité
impunity
Spanish
impunidad
impunity
Related words
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Related to impunity
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.