free of prosecution

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "free of prosecution" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal contexts to indicate that someone is not subject to legal action or charges. Example: "The witness was granted immunity, ensuring that they would be free of prosecution for any information they provided."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"Andersen had to die so that all other big corporations might live, free of prosecution".

Huffington Post

For Hailey, the outcome was a bittersweet one: She's finally free of prosecution, but she says the years in solitary confinement have made her a profoundly different person.

Vice

For Hailey, the outcome was a bittersweet one: She's finally free of prosecution, but says the years in solitary confinement have made her a profoundly different person.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Lots of Iranians love to be free of fear, prosecution and internal sanctions posed by the clerical regime.

Huffington Post

But the room – a place where addicts can use class A drugs free of fear of prosecution – doesn't open its doors to the city's 8,000 addicts until 8.30am.

The Guardian

"They're free from fear of prosecution under the Ashcroft directive," Mr. Stutsman said, "and they can focus on their practices and their ability to care for their patients".

The New York Times

Now free from threat of prosecution, Hergé continued to support his colleagues at Le Soir who were being charged as collaborators; six of them were sentenced to death, and others to lengthy prison sentences.

Wikipedia

You'll soon be free of the shadow of prosecution, Mr. Kellner's lawyers told him.

The New York Times

Users – or those considering use – can have their purchases analysed free from any risk of prosecution.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the Great Depression brought new assaults on civil liberties; the year 1930 saw a large increase in the number of free speech prosecutions, a doubling of the number of lynchings, and all meetings of unemployed persons were banned in Philadelphia.

Wikipedia

They claim that they are protecting free speech and the right to "fund and conduct scientific research free from intimidation and threats of prosecution".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "free of prosecution", ensure the context clearly defines who or what is granting this freedom. For instance, specify if it's a legal agreement, a political decision, or a particular statute.

Common error

Avoid assuming that being "free of prosecution" implies complete absolution. It may only apply to specific charges or a limited period, not future actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "free of prosecution" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun to indicate a state of being exempt from legal action. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts where legal immunity or protection is discussed. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "free of prosecution" is a grammatically sound and relatively infrequent expression used to indicate exemption from legal charges. As Ludwig highlights, it is primarily found in News & Media, Academia and Science contexts. Related terms include "immune from prosecution" and "exempt from prosecution", which offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. When using this phrase, ensure the scope and source of the protection are clearly defined. While Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness, remembering its specific legal implications is crucial for accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immune from prosecution

Replaces "free" with "immune", emphasizing legal protection against prosecution.

exempt from prosecution

Substitutes "free" with "exempt", highlighting a specific legal exemption.

not subject to prosecution

Rephrases to clarify that one is not under the authority or risk of prosecution.

safe from prosecution

Emphasizes the security aspect, implying protection against legal action.

beyond the reach of prosecution

Indicates that prosecution is impossible or unattainable.

clear of charges

Focuses on the absence of formal accusations or indictments.

absolved of guilt

Highlights that someone has been formally cleared of responsibility for a crime or wrongdoing.

exonerated from blame

Implies a formal declaration that someone is not guilty of a particular offense.

granted immunity

Specifies that legal protection has been officially provided.

unaccountable to the law

Indicates a broader state of being beyond legal responsibility.

FAQs

What does "free of prosecution" mean?

The phrase "free of prosecution" means that an individual or entity is not subject to legal charges or criminal proceedings for a particular action or set of circumstances. This can be due to immunity, legal agreements, or lack of sufficient evidence.

What are some alternatives to "free of prosecution"?

You can use alternatives like "immune from prosecution", "exempt from prosecution", or "not subject to prosecution" depending on the context.

In what context is it appropriate to use "free of prosecution"?

The phrase "free of prosecution" is appropriate in legal, political, or news contexts when describing someone's exemption from legal charges. For example, a witness might be granted immunity and be "free of prosecution" for their testimony.

What's the difference between "free of prosecution" and "exonerated"?

"Free of prosecution" means someone is not currently facing charges, while "exonerated" implies that someone was previously accused but has been proven innocent. You can be "free of prosecution" without ever being accused, but you can't be exonerated unless you were previously accused. So, you might be "cleared of charges", but not exonerated.