innocence
Americannoun
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the quality or state of being innocent; freedom from sin or moral wrong.
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freedom from legal or specific wrong; guiltlessness.
The prisoner proved his innocence.
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simplicity; absence of guile or cunning; naiveté.
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lack of knowledge or understanding.
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harmlessness; innocuousness.
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an innocent person or thing.
noun
Other Word Forms
- superinnocence noun
Etymology
Origin of innocence
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English word from Latin word innocentia. See innocent, -ence
Explanation
Innocence means you’ve done nothing wrong. You’ve broken no laws, committed no sins, and are not guilty of any morally evil act. Well done. In a courtroom, a defendant might announce their innocence, claiming they did not commit whatever crime they’re accused of. Innocence is very important in many religions, where your moral purity decides what happens to your soul after you die. The word comes from the Latin innocentia, which means “not harming” and someone with innocence will not harm themselves or others, at least not on purpose. Remember that there are no ss in innocence, so spell it with two cs.
Vocabulary lists containing innocence
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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.
It is not clear why GMP did this when it was apparent that Malkinson was protesting his innocence.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
Twin Peaks was both a place haunted by violence and a nostalgic fantasy of small-town innocence.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
It added that the move was taken after "a declaration of innocence following her change in behaviour."
From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026
But polygraphs are unreliable and inadmissible in court, and Hatley maintained her innocence under further questioning.
From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026
I was excited and energized to be able, finally to lay out all of the evidence proving Walter's innocence.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
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.
