Dictionary.com

know-nothing

[ noh-nuhth-ing ]
/ ˈnoʊˌnʌθ ɪŋ /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: know-nothing / know-nothings on Thesaurus.com

noun

adjective

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.
Question 1 of 7
“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
true
false
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar helpImprove Your Writing

Meet Grammar Coach

Improve Your Writing
Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to know-nothing

unschooled, illiterate, ignorant, fool, dunce, idiot, blockhead, imbecile, moron, dimwit, empty-headed, ignoramus, uncultivated, uncultured, unlearned, unrefined, untaught, benighted, uninstructed, lowbrow

Example sentences from the Web for know-nothing

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
FEEDBACK