immunity
ih-MYOO-nuh-tee
/ɪˈmjuːnəti/
Protection or exemption from something, especially legal prosecution or tax duties.
In international relations, 'diplomatic immunity' shields envoys from host country criminal jurisdiction.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'immunis' meaning 'exempt from public service or tax' (built from 'in-' = not + 'munis' = performing service). It transitioned into legal and medical realms to mean freedom from obligations or diseases.
Word relationships
- exemption: Exemption applies broadly to rules or taxes; immunity implies shielding from legal prosecution or disease.
- impunity: Impunity means freedom from punishment for wrongdoing, often carried with negative moral connotation.
- liability: State of being legally responsible for something.
Commonly confused with
- impunity: Immunity is a legal protection framework; impunity is the state of committing acts without fear of punishment.
Word family
- immunize (verb): To make immune or exempt.
- immune (adjective): Protected from a disease or legal obligation.
Collocations
- diplomatic immunity
- grant immunity
- sovereign immunity
- waive immunity
Example sentences
- "Under the Vienna Convention, accredited ambassadors enjoy absolute diplomatic immunity from prosecution." Diplomatic relations
- "The key witness was offered full immunity in exchange for testifying against the syndicate leaders." Legal immunity
Memory hook
IMMUNITY leaves you IMMUNE to prosecution. IMMUNITY = Immune from penalty.
When not to use
Do not use when describing simple physical strength; reserve for biological protection or legal exemption.
Fun facts
- Diplomatic immunity was codified globally in 1961, but ancient Greeks and Romans respected messenger immunity thousands of years ago.
Related words
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