Definitions
- Referring to the act of showing mercy or leniency towards someone who has committed a crime. - Describing the quality of being forgiving or compassionate towards others. - Talking about the power or authority to grant mercy or reduce a punishment.
- Referring to the act of officially forgiving someone for a crime and removing their legal guilt. - Describing the formal process of granting forgiveness and restoring rights to a convicted person. - Talking about the power or authority to grant forgiveness and absolve someone from their criminal record.
List of Similarities
- 1Both involve granting forgiveness or mercy.
- 2Both can be used in legal contexts.
- 3Both have the power to reduce or remove punishment.
- 4Both are acts of compassion towards someone who has committed a crime.
What is the difference?
- 1Definition: Clemency refers to the act of showing mercy or leniency, while pardon specifically means officially forgiving and removing legal guilt.
- 2Legal implications: Pardon is a formal process that restores rights and clears a person's criminal record, while clemency may not have the same legal implications.
- 3Authority: Clemency is often granted by a higher authority, such as a governor or president, while pardon is typically granted by the highest authority, such as a head of state.
- 4Usage: Clemency is more commonly used in legal and criminal justice contexts, while pardon can also be used in everyday language to mean forgiveness in general.
- 5Focus: Clemency emphasizes leniency and compassion towards the offender, while pardon focuses on the act of forgiving and removing legal consequences.
Remember this!
Clemency and pardon are synonyms that both involve granting forgiveness or mercy towards someone who has committed a crime. However, there are some differences between the two words. Clemency refers to the act of showing mercy or leniency, while pardon specifically means officially forgiving and removing legal guilt. Pardon is a formal process that restores rights and clears a person's criminal record, while clemency may not have the same legal implications. Additionally, clemency is often granted by a higher authority, while pardon is typically granted by the highest authority.
