Impunity means freedom from punishment or consequences, even when you've done something wrong. When someone acts with impunity, they do whatever they want without worrying about getting caught or facing penalties.

Imagine a student who keeps breaking classroom rules but never gets in trouble because the teacher doesn't notice or doesn't care. That student is acting with impunity. Or think of a bully who picks on others without ever being stopped or disciplined. The bully operates with impunity until someone finally holds them accountable.

It often appears in serious contexts. When people say a corrupt official acted with impunity, they mean that person broke laws or betrayed trust without facing justice. Impunity doesn't just mean avoiding punishment once by luck. It suggests a pattern where someone consistently escapes consequences they should face.

The phrase with impunity is very common: “The cheater copied answers with impunity until the teacher finally noticed.” Impunity represents a breakdown in fairness. When people can harm others or break rules with impunity, trust and justice can disappear. That's why holding wrongdoers accountable matters so much.