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
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
"Marigolds"
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Bronx Masquerade
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List 3
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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.
Holmes maintains both her innocence and her eerie smile, a rictus of empathy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
"Allegations do not constitute proof of wrongdoing, and any action taken by Fijian authorities must uphold due process, the presumption of innocence and the rule of law," it added.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
On Saturday, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak referred to "irrefutable evidence" that he claimed supports the club's claims of innocence.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
It stems from a flawed filing from his office backing a new trial for Dennis Johnson, a man convicted of murder who has maintained his innocence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026
Max smiles politely, her eyes sparkling with innocence.
From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
