innocent

[in-uh-suhnt]

adjective

1. free from moral wrong; without sin; pure.

   innocent children.

   Synonyms: immaculate, spotless, impeccable, faultless, virtuous, sinless
   Antonyms: guilty

2. free from legal or specific wrong; guiltless.

   innocent of the crime.

   Antonyms: guilty

3. not involving evil intent or motive.

   an innocent misrepresentation.

4. not causing physical or moral injury; harmless.

   innocent fun.

5. devoid (usually followed byof ).

   a law innocent of merit.

6. having or showing the simplicity or naiveté of an unworldly person; guileless; ingenuous.

   Synonyms: artless, unsophisticated, naive, simple

7. uninformed or unaware; ignorant.

noun

1. an innocent person.

2. a young child.

3. a guileless person.

4. a simpleton or idiot.

5. (used with a singular verb),  Usually innocents. bluet.

innocent

/ ˈɪnəsənt /

adjective

1. not corrupted or tainted with evil or unpleasant emotion; sinless; pure

2. not guilty of a particular crime; blameless

3. free (of); lacking

   innocent of all knowledge of history

4. 1. harmless or innocuous

      an innocent game

   2. not cancerous

      an innocent tumour

5. credulous, naive, or artless

6. simple-minded; slow-witted

noun

1. an innocent person, esp a young child or an ingenuous adult

2. a simple-minded person; simpleton

Other Word Forms

• innocently adverb
• quasi-innocent adjective
• quasi-innocently adverb
• superinnocent adjective
• superinnocently adverb
• uninnocent adjective
• uninnocently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of innocent¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English, from Latin innocent- (stem of innocēns ) “harmless,” equivalent to in- in- ³ + nocēns present participle of nocēre “to harm”; -ent; noxious

Synonym Study

Innocent, blameless, guiltless imply freedom from the responsibility of having done wrong. Innocent may imply having done no wrong at any time, and having not even a knowledge of evil: an innocent victim. Blameless denotes freedom from blame, especially moral blame: a blameless life. Guiltless denotes freedom from guilt or responsibility for wrongdoing, usually in a particular instance: guiltless of a crime.

Example Sentences

"Why did she take the innocent children with her?"

Read more on Barron's

Despite being given a life sentence, Michael Ross still claims he is innocent.

Read more on BBC

As with everything involving ultracompetitive athletes, even the innocent pickleball games got heated.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Sometimes stolen parts do go into Europe and then there's intelligence they're being posted back into England for innocent purchases," he said.

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Mr Sullivan, as an innocent man, is not eligible for that help.

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Related Words

• honest 
• legitimate 
• pure 
• uninvolved 
• virtuous