ignorance

American  

[ig-ner-uhns] / ˈɪg nər əns /

noun

1. the state or fact of being ignorant; lack of knowledge, learning, information, etc.

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ignorance British  

/ ˈɪɡnərəns /

noun

1. lack of knowledge, information, or education; the state of being ignorant

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Other Word Forms

• self-ignorance noun

Etymology

Origin of ignorance

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English word from Latin word ignōrantia. See ignore, -ance

Compare meaning

How does ignorance compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• ignorance vs. stupidity

Example Sentences

He only reveals further ignorance when Jay’s clarification—it’s James Baldwin he refers to—leads Leigh to add apologetically: “I don’t know all the Baldwin brothers by name. Was he the one in ‘Sliver’?”

From The Wall Street Journal

Apparently my real ignorance began to show; after a while Lieutenant Rahms stopped making notes of my hopelessly stupid answers.

From Literature

But the vibe coders wouldn’t be swayed, accusing the critics of “pearl clutching” and ignorance over the vast promise of AI.

From The Wall Street Journal

Is it a tremendously brilliant show of ignorance?

From Literature

Apple isn’t spending less on AI out of ignorance.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• benightedness
• blindness
• nescience
• unawareness