impunity
exemption from punishment or freedom from the consequences of one's actions
Word origin: From Latin impunitas, from poena, penalty.
Impunity in a sentence
Here are example sentences showing impunity in a sentence.
The corrupt official acted with apparent impunity because of his powerful political connections.
Lax enforcement allowed polluters to dump waste with impunity, confident that no penalty would follow.
Using “impunity” well
Impunity denotes freedom from punishment or consequence, and it most often appears in the phrase with impunity. It contrasts directly with accountability.
More GRE words starting with I
a person who attacks cherished beliefs or established institutions
attacking or undermining traditional beliefs and institutions
guided by ideals rather than by practical considerations
a peculiar habit or feature distinctive to an individual
excessively or blindly devoted to something or someone
extreme admiration or worship of someone or something, often to an excessive degree
to admire or revere someone to an excessive degree
charmingly peaceful and free of trouble
Questions about “impunity”
See these words the way the GRE tests them.
Definitions in isolation do not stick. Sit a free, full-length GRE mock and meet this vocabulary inside real text completion and sentence equivalence questions, with your score and a worked solution for every answer.