clemency

noun

clem·​en·​cy ˈkle-mən(t)-sē 

plural clemencies

1

a

: disposition to be merciful and especially to moderate the severity of punishment due

The judge ignored the prisoner's pleas for clemency.

b

: an act or instance of leniency

The governor's clemencies saved the lives of many death-row prisoners.

2

: pleasant mildness of weather

The fair was a great success, owing to the clemency of the weather.

Synonyms

• charity
• forbearance
• lenience
• leniency
• lenity
• mercifulness
• mercy
• quarter

Choose the Right Synonym for clemency

mercy, charity, clemency, grace, leniency mean a disposition to show kindness or compassion.

mercy implies compassion that forbears punishing even when justice demands it.

threw himself on the mercy of the court

charity stresses benevolence and goodwill shown in broad understanding and tolerance of others.

show a little charity for the less fortunate

clemency implies a mild or merciful disposition in one having the power or duty of punishing.

the judge refused to show clemency

grace implies a benign attitude and a willingness to grant favors or make concessions.

by the grace of God

leniency implies lack of severity in punishing.

criticized the courts for excessive leniency

Examples of clemency in a Sentence

The President has granted clemency to several people this month.

the judge chose to show clemency to the truly repentant embezzler

Recent Examples on the Web

The president has the power to grant clemency only for federal offenses, not state or local ones, and may pardon someone convicted in a U.S. District Court, the Superior Court of the District of Columbia or a military court-martial. —Joedy McCreary, Austin American-Statesman, 7 Dec. 2024

Jeffrey Crouch, an assistant professor of politics at American University and expert on the presidential pardon power, said a president can grant executive clemency as soon as a federal crime is committed and does not need to wait until someone is charged, tried or convicted. —Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024

Democrats in Congress want Biden to issue clemency to death row inmates and nonviolent offenders. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2024

Harrison pointed to Trump's apparent plans to oust FBI Director Christopher Wray and replace him with loyalist Patel and suggested that the GOP's pursuit of Hunter Biden would not have ended without clemency. —Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see clement

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

clemency

noun

clem·​en·​cy ˈklem-ən-sē 

plural clemencies

1

: disposition to be merciful

2

: an act or instance of mercy

Legal Definition

clemency

noun

clem·​en·​cy ˈkle-mən-sē 

plural clemencies

1

: willingness or ability to moderate the severity of a punishment (as a sentence)

2

: an act or instance of mercy, compassion, or forgiveness see also amnesty, commute, pardon, reprieve