ignorant

[ ig-ner-uhnt ]

adjective

1. lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned:

   Although he was an ignorant man, he was very excited to learn.

   Synonyms: untaught, untutored, uninstructed

   Antonyms: literate

2. lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact:

   I admit I'm entirely ignorant of quantum physics.

   Synonyms: unenlightened

   Antonyms: learned

3. uninformed; unaware:

   You'd have to be pretty ignorant not to have heard this news.

4. due to or showing lack of knowledge or training:

   Everyone makes an ignorant statement or two when they're first starting out.

ignorant

/ ˈɪɡnərənt /

adjective

1. lacking in knowledge or education; unenlightened
2. postpositiveoften foll byof lacking in awareness or knowledge (of)

   ignorant of the law

3. resulting from or showing lack of knowledge or awareness

   an ignorant remark

Confusables Note

See stupid ( def ).

Derived Forms

• ˈignorantly, adverb

Other Words From

• ig·no·rant·ly adverb
• non·ig·no·rant adjective
• non·ig·no·rant·ly adverb
• qua·si-ig·no·rant adjective
• qua·si-ig·no·rant·ly adverb
• self-ig·no·rant adjective
• su·per·ig·no·rant adjective
• su·per·ig·no·rant·ly adverb
• un·ig·no·rant adjective
• un·ig·no·rant·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ignorant¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English ignora(u)nt, from Latin ignōrant-, stem of ignōrāns “not knowing,” present participle of ignōrāre “to not know”; ignore ( def ), -ant ( def )

Synonym Study

Ignorant, illiterate, unlettered, uneducated mean lacking in knowledge or in training. Ignorant may mean knowing little or nothing, or it may mean uninformed about a particular subject: An ignorant person can be dangerous. I confess I'm ignorant of mathematics. Illiterate originally meant lacking a knowledge of literature or similar learning, but is most often applied now to one unable to read or write: necessary training for illiterate soldiers. Unlettered emphasizes the idea of being without knowledge of literature: unlettered though highly trained in science. Uneducated refers especially to lack of schooling or to lack of access to a body of knowledge equivalent to that learned in schools: uneducated but highly intelligent. None of these words mean "lacking in intelligence."

Example Sentences

He will ban reporters, investigate them and otherwise silence them as he installs tariffs, rounds up immigrants and happily flushes fluoride from our water – making “Dr. Strangelove” that much closer to reality while eclipsing “Idiocracy” in its ignorant futility.

From Salon

Jackson, they wrote, was “ignorant, inexperienced” and a “man of no labor, no patience . . . wholly unqualified by education, habit and temper for the station of the president.”

From Salon

This "ignorant and colonial attitude", wrote Indrajit Samarajiva in 2023, was "more about making white people feel good than helping anyone".

From BBC

Speaking to Salon, these experts reiterated one theme over and over again: This was an election between science and ignorance of science, and the ignorant side — which serves special interest groups like the fossil fuel industry — have prevailed.

From Salon

What's sad is that Trump and his allies don't even hide how much they think his voters are ignorant and deluded.

From Salon

Related Words

• illiterate
• innocent
• naive
• oblivious
• obtuse
• uneducated
• uninformed