French word

impunité

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛ̃pynite/

Meaning

  • feminine nounimpunity

Example

Ils agissent en toute impunité.

They act with total impunity.

Illustration for impunité (impunity)

More examples

Beaucoup vivent dans l'impunité face à la corruption.

Many people live with impunity in the face of corruption.

Core concept

A wrongdoer acts while the expected consequence never arrives.

Common phrases

  • vivre dans l'impunité

    live with impunity

Similar words

pardon: Forgiveness that releases someone from legal or moral responsibility.
immunité: Legal or official protection from punishment or investigation.
tolérance: Acceptance of rule breaking or other conduct that should normally be criticized.

Definition in French

Désigne l'absence de punition pour un acte répréhensible.

Word origin

French impunité comes from Latin impunitas, formed from in- meaning not and a punishment root related to Latin punire.

Usage tips

  • The formal noun impunité often occurs in en toute impunité, while everyday French can use sans être puni instead.

Opposites

Related words

  • impuniunpunishedadjective

Word lists with this word