innocence

American  

[in-uh-suhns] / ˈɪn ə səns /

noun

1. the quality or state of being innocent; freedom from sin or moral wrong.

2. freedom from legal or specific wrong; guiltlessness.

   The prisoner proved his innocence.

3. simplicity; absence of guile or cunning; naiveté.

4. lack of knowledge or understanding.

5. harmlessness; innocuousness.

6. chastity.

7. an innocent person or thing.

8. bluet.

9. blue-eyed Mary.

---

innocence British  

/ ˈɪnəsəns /

noun

1. Archaic word: innocency.  the quality or state of being innocent

---

Other Word Forms

• superinnocence noun

Etymology

Origin of innocence

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English word from Latin word innocentia. See innocent, -ence

Example Sentences

But 48 hours later, he struggled to persuade his innocence as a faithful and was banished from the show.

From BBC

They maintained their innocence of all charges leveled against them.

From Salon

Piantedosi thanked police for their work in a post on X, but also noted that "the presumption of innocence... must always be recognised at this stage".

From BBC

“I’m seeing a bit of the innocence of childhood coming back,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Najib's lawyers claim that he had been misled by his advisers - in particular the financier Jho Low, who has maintained his innocence but remains at large.

From BBC