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.
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
They are already scheduled to appear before the board on June 13 as part of a comprehensive risk assessment report ordered by Newsom, who is considering the brothers’ clemency request – a separate potential path out of prison.
—
Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Newsom has also scheduled a June parole board hearing date to determine whether an application for clemency can go forward.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
Out of that June hearing, Newsom will make his decision to grant clemency or not.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2025
President Trump’s sweeping clemency for Jan. 6 defendants have taken a number of surprising twists and turns nearly three months after the Capitol attack prosecution was abruptly upended.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clemency
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Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Newsom has also scheduled a June parole board hearing date to determine whether an application for clemency can go forward.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
Out of that June hearing, Newsom will make his decision to grant clemency or not.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2025
President Trump’s sweeping clemency for Jan. 6 defendants have taken a number of surprising twists and turns nearly three months after the Capitol attack prosecution was abruptly upended.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clemency
Cite this Entry
“Clemency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clemency. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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