know-nothing
Americannoun
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an ignorant or totally uninformed person; ignoramus.
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an agnostic.
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(initial capital letters) 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.
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a person whose anti-intellectualism, xenophobia, and other political attitudes recall the Know-Nothings.
adjective
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grossly ignorant; totally uninformed.
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(initial capital letters) of or relating to the Know-Nothings.
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of or relating to a political know-nothing.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of know-nothing
First recorded in 1815–25; 1850–55 know-nothing for defs. 3, 7
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.
Her book abounds with busybody advocacy groups, donor advisory networks and consultancies run by know-nothing 20-somethings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Who hasn’t had the experience of hearing some know-nothing proudly display his ignorance — whether in a bar, on a crowded plane or on Joe Rogan’s podcast?
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2026
The effort always includes promotional videos, such as one this summer featuring a know-it-all who is exposed as a know-nothing because he doesn’t know where tickets are sold.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 28, 2022
I have to admit that my attempt to get folks to confront their know-nothing relatives over Thanksgiving and report back on any success was a total bust.
From Salon ● Dec. 4, 2019
I looked at her with my know-nothing face, but inside I was trembling.
From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan
Definitions 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.
