Skip to main content

Search from vocabulary

Content language

Concept information

Preferred term

mercy  

Definition

  • Mercy generally refers to relatively lenient treatment given to those under one's power or authority. For mercy to occur, such treatment should be compassionate when compared to what the powerful individual or authority is actually capable of imposing. [Source: Encyclopedia of Crime and Punishment; Mercy]

Broader concept

Belongs to group

URI

https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/mercy

Download this concept: