innocence
the quality or state of being innocent; freedom from sin or moral wrong.
freedom from legal or specific wrong; guiltlessness: The prisoner proved his innocence.
simplicity; absence of guile or cunning; naiveté.
lack of knowledge or understanding.
harmlessness; innocuousness.
an innocent person or thing.
Origin of innocence
1Other words from innocence
- su·per·in·no·cence, noun
Words that may be confused with innocence
- innocence , innocents
Words Nearby innocence
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use innocence in a sentence
He read from a rambling 21-page statement, reasserting his innocence and airing grievances against the criminal justice system.
He maintains his innocence, said he regrets not coming out sooner but said he assumed his constituents knowing would “not go over well.”
Pop culture countdown: Iconic and ignominious | Joey DiGuglielmo | December 30, 2020 | Washington BladeNavlakha, who is in his 60s, has said he maintains his innocence and is worried about receiving a fair and speedy trial.
These 10 journalists face additional threats from COVID-19 | lbelanger225 | December 2, 2020 | FortuneLee professed his innocence and fought the actions, typically settling for discounted amounts.
Investors Extracted $400 Million From a Hospital Chain That Sometimes Couldn’t Pay for Medical Supplies or Gas for Ambulances | by Peter Elkind with Doris Burke | September 30, 2020 | ProPublicaThe official believed his innocence, according to Jefferson, but cited his “reputational risk” still driven, a year after his exoneration, by the allegations whenever he is Googled.
He was forced to resign after a government report criticized him. Eight years later, the government took it back. | Joe Davidson | September 24, 2020 | Washington Post
“The innocence of young people must be preserved at all costs,” said Glees.
Britain May Spy on Preschoolers Searching for Potential Jihadis | Nico Hines | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTHe did not plead guilty, and has regularly filed petitions in an effort to prove his innocence.
Behind Bars for the Holidays: 11 Political Prisoners We Want to See Free In 2015 | Movements.Org | December 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut I remain in prison on these baseless allegations while waiting for the chance to prove my innocence.
An American Marine in Iran’s Prisons Goes on Hunger Strike | IranWire | December 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWe look forward to proving their innocence and to their complete vindication before a trial court.
And there were much wider protests later in 2012 after the anti-Islam movie trailer, “innocence of Muslims,” appeared on YouTube.
Why the Muslim World Isn’t Flipping Out Over the CIA Torture Report | Dean Obeidallah | December 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTStung to the soul, Louis threw himself at her feet, to proclaim his innocence of all these inferences, before heaven and her.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterThe soul's confessions of that dear young lady were delightful in their naïve innocence.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsBeware of ignorance which assumes the mask of knowledge, or of designing roguery which apes the appearance of innocence.
Violins and Violin Makers | Joseph PearceWe stayed at the Pera Palace Hotel, and the first night after dinner, in our innocence, strolled out.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph TatlowHer face, too, was inexpressibly virginal in its expression of innocence and of melancholy suffering.
Camille (La Dame aux Camilias) | Alexandre Dumas, fils
British Dictionary definitions for innocence
/ (ˈɪnəsəns) /
the quality or state of being innocent: Archaic word: innocency (ˈɪnəsənsɪ)
Origin of innocence
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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