What is the difference between immunity and impunity?
immunity | impunity |
(uncountable) The state of being insusceptible to something; notably:
# (medicine) Fully protective resistance against infection.
# (law) An exemption from specified duties, such as payments or services.
# (law) An exemption from prosecution.
# (in games and competitions) An exemption given to a player from losing or being withdrawn from play.
(countable) A resistance to a specific thing.
(countable, legal) Exemption from punishment.
(uncountable) Freedom from punishment or retribution; security from any reprisal or injurious consequences of an action, behaviour etc.
* 1846 , :
* 1994 , Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom , Abacus 2010, p. 495:
In uncountable terms the difference between immunity and impunity
is that immunity is the state of being insusceptible to something; notably while impunity is freedom from punishment or retribution; security from any reprisal or injurious consequences of an action, behaviour etc.immunity
English
Noun
- Some people have better immunity to diseases than others.
- Feudal privileges often included tax and other immunities .
- The prosecutor offered the lieutenant immunity for all the crimes he would testify having known to be planned by the elusive drug baron.
- After winning the last round the player was granted immunity which allowed him to stay in the game even after receiving the least amount of points.
Synonyms
* exemption * free pass * get out of jail free cardimpunity
English
Noun
- I must not only punish but punish with impunity . A wrong is undressed when retribution overtakes its redresser.
- The remoteness of the prison made the authorities feel they could ignore us with impunity .