unknowing
Americanadjective
adjective
-
not knowing; ignorant
-
without knowledge or unaware (of)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unknowing
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at un- 1, knowing
Explanation
Unknowing means not having all the information you need to understand something. A bank robber's unknowing accomplice might drive the getaway car without realizing that's what he's doing. A teacher might be worried about an approaching storm and the possibility of tornadoes, while her unknowing class calmly completes an assignment. And you may try to protect the unknowing eyes of your little brother from the dead squirrel in the street because you know he'll get upset. There's a kind of innocence to the lack of knowledge that results in being unknowing. In the 14th century, there was also a verb, unknow, that meant "fail to recognize."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That led her to co-found the Coalition Against Stalkerware, an international working group tackling the problem of software tools frequently used to spy on unknowing romantic partners.
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026
An unknowing visitor to the U.S. in 2026 might be forgiven for wondering why more Americans aren’t hobbling around in leg casts and wearing neck braces.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
If they take her case, the justices will decide whether the fraudulent acts of a third-party tax preparer should expose unknowing clients to audits that could reach years into the past.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 27, 2026
Whenever an unknowing fan shows up to a venue with a fake ticket, it often falls on the venue and its staff to deal with the situation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 29, 2026
When the victorious Greek Fleet put out to sea after the fall of Troy, many a captain, all unknowing, faced troubles as black as those he had brought down on the Trojans.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
