clemency
clem·en·cy/ˈklɛ.mən(t).si/noun
clemency is spelled C-L-E-M-E-N-C-Y: 8 letters and 3 syllables (clem·en·cy). It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 30,017th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, clemency means “The gentle or kind exercise of power; leniency, mercy; compassion in judging or punishing” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of clemency is clemencies.
How many letters and syllables are in clemency?
| Letters | 8: C-L-E-M-E-N-C-Y |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3: clem·en·cy |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 30,017th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is clemency?
Clemency appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 30,017th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce clemency?
- UK /ˈklɛ.mən.si/
- US /ˈklɛ.mən(t).si/
Clemency has 3 syllables, split clem·en·cy in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-au-clemency.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of clemency
- clemencies plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does clemency mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The gentle or kind exercise of power; leniency, mercy; compassion in judging or punishing.
- 2
A pardon, commutation, or similar reduction, removal, or postponement of legal penalties by an executive officer of a state.
- 3
archaicMildness of weather.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Clemency in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | clémence , compassion, pitié, miséricorde, commisération |
| German | Milde, Barmherzigkeit, Güte, Gütigkeit , Nachsicht |
| Portuguese | clemência |
| Spanish | clemencia |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does clemency come from?
From Middle English clemency, clemencie, from Latin clēmentia. Gradually eclipsed Middle English clemence, from Old French clemence, from the same Latin origin.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).