know-nothing

[ noh-nuhth-ing ]

noun

1. an ignorant or totally uninformed person; ignoramus.
2. an agnostic.
3. (initial capital letters) U.S. History. a member of a political party American party, or Know-Noth·ing party prominent from 1853 to 1856, whose aim was to keep control of the government in the hands of native-born citizens: so called because members originally professed ignorance of the party's activities.
4. a person whose anti-intellectualism, xenophobia, and other political attitudes recall the Know-Nothings.

adjective

1. grossly ignorant; totally uninformed.
2. agnostic.
3. (initial capital letters) of or relating to the Know-Nothings.
4. of or relating to a political know-nothing.

know-nothing

noun

1. informal.
   an ignorant person

Other Words From

• know-nothing·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of know-nothing¹

First recorded in 1815–25; 1850–55 know-nothing fordefs 3, 7

Example Sentences

They know nothing about this relationship between two strangers.

From The Daily Beast

But other than that, we know nothing about this line of potential demigods.

From The Daily Beast

It has to be strange to know so much about their lives while they know nothing about yours.

From The Daily Beast

We know nothing of how efficiently, or otherwise, any of these tasks were performed.

From The Daily Beast

“You know nothing, Jon Snow…” are her final words, as he cradles her body in his arms.

From The Daily Beast

But, she reflected, certainly Vera could know nothing of this, and she must act exactly as Vera would have done.

From Project Gutenberg

Now I know nothing so overpowering, as that sort of unanimous expression of deep interest, from any large body of men.

From Project Gutenberg

Their laughter reached him as he advanced, and told him they could know nothing yet of Richard's danger.

From Project Gutenberg

There, I have cried more in the last fortnight than in all my life before, and you know nothing spoils one's beauty like crying.

From Project Gutenberg

I know nothing more melodramatic than certain of the plots of Shakespeare's plays.

From Project Gutenberg