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

Bennett argued presciently that by kowtowing to radicals, “a great university was brought low by the very forces which modern universities came into being to oppose: ignorance, irrationality and intimidation.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Katherine spoke the words for him, shattering his hopes for ignorance.

From Literature

There’s a lot of ignorance that goes into it as well.

From Los Angeles Times

“We are witnessing a massive pendulum swing of one type of ignorance to another,” Barbieri said.

From The Wall Street Journal

But if we look deeply into the weapons, we see our own minds — our prejudices, fears and ignorance.

From Salon

Related Words

• benightedness
• blindness
• nescience
• unawareness