clemency

(klĕm'ən-sē)
n., pl., -cies.

1. A disposition to show mercy, especially toward an offender or enemy. See synonyms at mercy.
2. A merciful, kind, or lenient act.
3. Mildness, especially of weather.

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noun

Kind, forgiving, or compassionate treatment of or disposition toward others: charity, grace, lenience, leniency, lenity, mercifulness, mercy. See forgiveness/vindictiveness.

n

Definition: forgiveness
Antonyms: no mercy

This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.

Leniency or mercy. A power given to a public official, such as a governor or the president, to in some way lower or moderate the harshness of punishment imposed upon a prisoner.

Clemency is considered to be an act of grace. It is based on the policy of fairness, justice, and forgiveness. It is not a right but rather a privilege, and one who is granted clemency does not have the crime forgotten, as in amnesty, but is forgiven and treated more leniently for the criminal acts. Clemency is similar to pardon inasmuch as it is an act of grace exempting someone from punishment. Commutation of an offender's sentence, however, is the lessening of the punishment based on the offender's own good conduct subsequent to his conviction.

IN BRIEF: An act of mercy.

The prisoners were granted clemency by the governor so they all went home.

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For a list of words related to clemency, see:

• Decisions, Judgments, and Conditions - clemency: reduction of sentence, usu. by executive branch
• Prison and Punishment - clemency: mercy shown to prisoner by authorities

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See words rhyming with "clemency."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Clemency.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - mildhed

Nederlands (Dutch)
genade, mildheid

Français (French)
n. - clémence

Deutsch (German)
n. - Nachsicht, Milde

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - επιείκεια

Italiano (Italian)
clemenza, grazia

Português (Portuguese)
n. - clemência (f)

Русский (Russian)
милосердие, снисхождение, мягкость климата

Español (Spanish)
n. - clemencia

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - mildhet, förbarmande

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
仁慈, 温和, 宽厚

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 仁慈, 溫和, 寬厚

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 온화, 자비로운 행위

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 温順, 温和, 女子名, 寛大

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) الرأفه, الرحمه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮רחמים, נעימות, נוחות‬

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