scot-free
/ˌskɑtˈfɹi/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.28 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "to get off scot-free"
- "To ſay the Ieſuites are all ſmattred vvith Atheiſme, I vvill not: and to ſay, that any of them all are abſolutely ſcotfree from it, I cannot: it is ſo repugnant from their ovvne principles."
- "[T]he Papiſts, profeſſed Enemies of our Church and Religion, eſcaping in the mean vvhile Scot-free, ſeldome or never medled vvithal in any of their Sermons."
- "Correct me if I am missuggesting; you stated that there were 28,000 actual serious crimes committed in 1965 —I believe it was that year — and only 1,000 convictions , which means that the chances are, roughly, 28 to 1 of getting off scot free — that one can commit an act of violence, a serious crime, and have a good chance of getting off."
- "Opioids have killed 600,000 Americans. The Sacklers just got off scot-free"
- "He added: "It's been a long journey, and it's really, really nice to able^([sic]) to turn and look at my clients, and say 'he can't get off scot-free for this. He can't. You had a defendant who went into that courtroom and said, 'I think I should have to pay them a dollar.' And this jury said no.""
Etymology
From Middle English scotfre, from Old English scotfrēo (“scot-free; exempt from royal tax or imposts”), equivalent to scot (“payment; contribution; fine”) + -free.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌskɑtˈfɹi/
- British English: /ˌskɒtˈfɹi/
Usage
Inflected Forms
scotfree (alternative)
scott free (alternative)
scotchfree (alternative, obsolete)
skot fre (alternative, obsolete)
shot-free (alternative, obsolete)
more scot-free (comparative)
most scot-free (superlative)