Ignorant

Practice This Word

Lacking knowledge or awareness about something; not informed or aware in a given context.

adjective

Ignorant

Lacking knowledge or awareness about something; not informed or aware in a given context.

adjective

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Imagine This

Picture a traveler in a foreign country who refuses to learn the local language and customs, treating them as unimportant and remaining ignorant of how to interact respectfully with people there.

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Sounds Like

ˈɪɡ.nə.rənt (IG-nuh-ruhnt)

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Looks Like

Looks like the word 'ignore' with an ending '-ant' (ignore + ant); visually related to 'ignorance' and 'ignorant'.

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Remember This

Etymology comes from Latin ignorans, from ignorare 'to not know'; the word is the adjective form of lacking knowledge, not a commentary on intelligence.

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Other Forms

ignorancenoun

ignorantlyadverb

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Connect With

uninformed, unaware, naive, oblivious, informed (opposite), knowledge

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Note

Avoid using 'ignorant' as a general insult about a person; specify what they are ignorant of (e.g., 'ignorant of the tax code'). Also note the phrase 'willful ignorance' refers to consciously avoiding learning new information.

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Study Deeper

Examples

She was ignorant of the local customs and unintentionally offended her hosts.
Many voters are ignorant about the specifics of the policy.

Synonyms

uninformedunawarenaiveill-informeduneducated

Antonyms

informedknowledgeableawareenlightened

Etymology

From Latin ignorant-, from ignorare 'to not know'; entered English via Old French/Latin roots, with the sense of lacking knowledge distinguishing it from intelligence.

Mnemonic

IGNORE + ANT: Picture an ant who always ignores everything around it; this ant is ignorant because it lacks knowledge of its surroundings.