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-Nothing 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.

Words nearby know-nothing

know where one stands, know which side of one's bread is buttered, know-all, know-how, know-it-all, know-nothing, know-nothings, knowable, knowe, knowed, knowing

Origin of know-nothing

First recorded in 1815–25

OTHER WORDS FROM know-nothing

know-noth·ing·ism, noun

Examples 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

know-nothing

noun

adjective

Content related to know-nothing

Words related to know-nothing

Words nearby know-nothing

Origin of know-nothing

OTHER WORDS FROM know-nothing

Examples from the Web for know-nothing

British Dictionary definitions for know-nothing

noun