Finesentence logo

Clemency: meaning, definitions and examples

⚖️
Add to dictionary

clemency

 

[ ˈklemənsi ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

legal term

Clemency is the act of showing mercy or leniency towards someone who has committed a crime. It is often granted by a government or a ruling authority.

Synonyms

leniency, mercy, pardon

Examples of usage

  • The president granted clemency to the prisoners on death row.
  • The judge decided to show clemency towards the first-time offender.
Context #2 | Noun

general usage

Clemency can also refer to a disposition to show mercy or kindness.

Synonyms

forgiveness, kindness, mercy

Examples of usage

  • She showed clemency towards her friend who made a mistake.
  • The teacher's clemency towards the students helped them learn from their errors.

Translations

Translations of the word "clemency" in other languages:

🇵🇹 clemência

🇮🇳 क्षमा

🇩🇪 Gnade

🇮🇩 pengampunan

🇺🇦 помилування

🇵🇱 łaska

🇯🇵 恩赦 (おんしゃ)

🇫🇷 clémence

🇪🇸 clemencia

🇹🇷 merhamet

🇰🇷 자비

🇸🇦 رحمة

🇨🇿 milost

🇸🇰 milosť

🇨🇳 宽恕 (kuānshù)

🇸🇮 milost

🇮🇸 náð

🇰🇿 мейірімділік

🇬🇪 შეწყალება

🇦🇿 mərhəmət

🇲🇽 clemencia

Etymology

The word 'clemency' originated from the Latin word 'clementia', meaning mercy or mildness. It has been used in English since the 15th century to refer to the act of showing mercy or leniency. Clemency plays a significant role in legal systems around the world, allowing for the possibility of forgiveness and rehabilitation.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #18,147, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.