know-nothing

[ noh-nuhth-ing ]

/ ˈnoʊˌnʌθ ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR know-nothing ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an ignorant or totally uninformed person; ignoramus.

(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.

a person whose anti-intellectualism, xenophobia, and other political attitudes recall the Know-Nothings.

adjective

grossly ignorant; totally uninformed.

agnostic.

(initial capital letters) of or relating to the Know-Nothings.

of or relating to a political know-nothing.

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What does “vacillate” mean?

to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.

to cause to be empty or unoccupied.

to assent tacitly; agree; consent.

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Origin of know-nothing

First recorded in 1815–25; 1850–55 for defs. 3, 7

OTHER WORDS FROM know-nothing

know-noth·ing·ism, noun

Words nearby know-nothing

Knowledge is power, knowledge worker, Knowles, know like a book, known, know-nothing, Know-Nothings, known quantity, know one's own mind, know one's place, know one's stuff

Example sentences from the Web for know-nothing

Such revelations seem like the dream come true of know-nothing anti-Catholicism.
The Vatican's Sex Cover-up|James Carroll|March 11, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Predictably enough, a certain brand of know-nothing militarist sees the need for yet another war.
Fighting Yemen's Terror Factory|Matthew Yglesias|December 31, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Now the Russians recognize that Obama will be very different from his know-nothing predecessor.
Cold War II?|Martin Sieff|November 17, 2008|DAILY BEAST
To be sure, patriot-Americans are not know-nothing nativists or backwater rubes, nor are post-Americans traitors.
A 'Black President' Is of No Value to America|Rich Benjamin|November 4, 2008|DAILY BEAST

One factor which greatly baffled the calculations and forecast of politicians was the Know-Nothing or American party.
Abraham Lincoln, A History, Volume 2|John George Nicolay and John Hay
In my part of the state there are no Know-Nothing organizations of whose members I have any knowledge.
The Life of Lyman Trumbull|Horace White
Only the nomination of a Know-Nothing candidate complicated the issues which were thus drawn.
Stephen A. Douglas|Allen Johnson
Seems as if there was something the matter with you, beyond what that know-nothing doctor said.
Reels and Spindles|Evelyn Raymond
The "Know-Nothing" movement was a sort of political carnival, half jest, half earnest, and good for that trip only.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 15, No. 89, March, 1865|Various

British Dictionary definitions for know-nothing

know-nothing

noun

informal, derogatory an ignorant person

Collins 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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know-nothing

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Origin of know-nothing

OTHER WORDS FROM know-nothing

Words nearby know-nothing

Example sentences from the Web for know-nothing

British Dictionary definitions for know-nothing

noun

MEANINGS

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LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

know-nothing

noun

adjective

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Origin of know-nothing

OTHER WORDS FROM know-nothing

Words nearby know-nothing

Words related to know-nothing

Example sentences from the Web for know-nothing

British Dictionary definitions for know-nothing

noun