noun · formal
clemency
/ˈklɛmənsi/CLEM·en·cy
Band 7+task2speaking
mercy or leniency shown by a person in authority, especially reducing a criminal's punishment
Examples
“The governor granted clemency to several non-violent offenders.”
“Campaigners argued for clemency in death penalty cases.”
“Clemency is sometimes used when new evidence raises doubts about a conviction.”
Band 8 sentence
“Invoking clemency is a delicate political decision that balances justice with compassion.”
Collocations
- grant clemency
- seek clemency
- appeal for clemency
Word family
clemency nounclemency petition noun phrase
Common mistakes
ask clemency→ask for clemency / seek clemency
grant mercy→grant clemency / grant a pardon
Say it for a higher band
5mercy→6pardon→7+clemency
Synonyms
pardon
Easily confused
pardon
“The president's decision to grant clemency provoked a heated public debate.”
Related words
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In Crime & Law
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