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

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

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

Studies show Republican voters are often more ignorant of the policies their elected officials pass, suggesting that they are easier to manipulate with empty identity-based appeals.

From Salon

Among them was Angel Cintron, president of Puerto Rico's Republican Party, who was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying it was "disgraceful, ignorant and totally reprehensible".

From BBC

I'm proud to be the first person in my family to attend college, and ignorant comments won't stop me from pursuing a degree in the sciences.

From Salon

Related Words

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