blissful ignorance

American  

[blis-fuhl ig-ner-uhns] / ˈblɪs fəl ˈɪg nər əns /

noun

1. the condition of being unaware, and often choosing to remain unaware, of complex issues, negative circumstances, etc., that might be distressing.

   Many people likely have hypertension and don't know it, living out their lives in blissful ignorance.

   To assume a stance of blissful ignorance about abuses in our own institution is nothing short of cowardice.

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Other Word Forms

• blissfully ignorant adjective

Etymology

Origin of blissful ignorance

First recorded in 1740–50

Example Sentences

Our solution: I pay the bill, he never sees it, and he enjoys a blissful ignorance.

From Washington Post • Apr. 30, 2023

According to Harry, many people had a "blissful ignorance" towards the illness because they didn’t think they were at risk for contracting it.

From Fox News • Feb. 10, 2022

“We all had such blissful ignorance going into the reunion,” she said.

From New York Times • Sep. 26, 2021

She said: "We expected she would be safe. We were in blissful ignorance."

From BBC • Jul. 12, 2021

Toward the end of the summer I accidentally over- heard a conversation that shook me out of my state of blissful ignorance.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss