What term means official forgiveness for a crime or misdeed, without punishment?

• A. Exemption
• B. Amnesty
• C. Pardon
• D. Probation

Answer: (B)

Amnesty is the term for official forgiveness granted by a government for offenses, with no punishment imposed. It’s usually given to a group of people rather than to a single individual, and it often comes with immunity from prosecution so the offenses are not pursued or punished as part of the punishment. This makes amnesty a broad, collective pardon rather than a specific, individual mercy.

Pardons, in contrast, are granted to individuals after a conviction, forgiving the crime but not creating a blanket group forgiveness. Exemption means avoiding a rule or duty, not forgiving a crime. Probation is a supervised, punitive alternative to imprisonment, not forgiveness.