ignorance
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
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:
Explanation
If you didn't do any of the reading or homework for your Russian history class, you are probably hoping the teacher won't call on you, so you can hide your ignorance, or lack of knowledge. The noun ignorance is not a synonym for "stupidity," since its meaning is closer to "being uninformed" than "being unintelligent." Ignorance implies that a person or group needs to be educated on a particular subject. You might have heard the phrase "ignorance is bliss," which means that sometimes it's easier when you don't know the whole truth about something and can be blissfully happy, unaware of unpleasant realities.
Vocabulary lists containing ignorance
"Marigolds"
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Graduation Gems, 2016
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Eats, Shoots & Leaves
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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.
While several panelists continue to plead ignorance as to what, exactly, makes a movie debuting on television a TV movie or not a TV movie, some find titles to champion.
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026
"Prejudice is based on ignorance," Frank told The Boston Globe in 2011, as he prepared for retirement.
From BBC • May 20, 2026
It’s easy for casual scrollers to live in ignorance, but there remain many factors behind what really, viscerally appeals to the masses at any given moment.
From Slate • May 6, 2026
The mere suggestion has split the town, pitting younger detractors against older Lenox Millionaires, who shake their heads at what they see as the community’s ignorance of its history and tradition.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
Montaigne had already asked, ‘How many things are there which we call miraculous or contrary to Nature? All men and nations do that according to the measure of their ignorance.’
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
