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

“Like, I know this is hard to explain,” she said, giggling at the comprehensiveness of his ignorance.

From Los Angeles Times

“I am worried with this level of ignorance we have toward our own environment,” he said, citing endangered species and climate change.

From New York Times

He cited a report which heard there is ignorance about the disease and incorrect assumptions of mental incapacity.

From BBC

You describe your neighbor as “ignorant,” and I want to note that there’s a difference between ignorance and conscious bias.

From Washington Post

I'm not saying it was brute force and ignorance, but it was close to that.

From BBC

Related Words

• benightedness
• blindness
• nescience
• unawareness