noun

impunity

im-PYOO-nuh-tee/ɪmˈpjuːnəti/

Freedom from punishment or harmful consequences.

The official blocks the restricted lane with apparent impunity.

Powerful official openly parks across a restricted lane while attendants ignore the violation, showing escaping punishment.

Etymology

imLatinnot, without

+punLatinpunishment

+ityLatinstate or quality

The pieces describe the state of being without punishment. Impunity concerns escaping the penalty for an action, rather than whether the action itself was wrong.

In context

Prof. Sam Vaknin6:27

all of them shared a sense of impunity, a sense of immunity to the consequences of their actions

Psychology of Fraud and Corruption (Criminology Intro in CIAPS, Cambridge, UK)

More examples

The investigation challenged years of apparent impunity.
He assumed his wealth allowed him to cheat with impunity.
The new oversight system was intended to end impunity.

Forms

impunity

Similar words

immunity: Immunity can be legal protection from liability; impunity describes actually escaping punishment or harmful consequences.
exemption: An exemption formally removes an obligation; impunity describes escape from consequences whether authorized or not.