Words / C2

im-PYOON-uh-tee/ɪmˈpjuːnəti/

Impunity is freedom from punishment or from the usual cost: with impunity, act with impunity. Immunity (immune is already in the dictionary) is protection, often medical or legal; they are cousins, not twins. Punish is the everyday verb hiding in the word. Do not grant impunity to a shared login because “we have always done it”.

Meaning

Freedom from punishment or the usual harmful results (with impunity).

Examples

• “They edited the n with impunity until the appendix was opened.”
• “Without punishment is the gloss. Immunity to measles is medical (already in the dictionary). Impugn (already in C2) is attack a claim — a lookalike. If the log is checked, there was never impunity, only delay.”

Good to know

No punishment (usually with impunity). Everyday: without punishment. Cousin: immunity (protection). Mix-up: impugn. A habit is not a defence.

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