uninitiated

British  

/ ˌʌnɪˈnɪʃɪeɪtɪd /

adjective

1. 1. not having gained knowledge or experience of a particular subject or activity

   2. ( as collective noun ; preceded by the )

      the uninitiated

---

Explanation

Someone who's uninitiated is inexperienced or lacking an insider's knowledge of a subject. For the uninitiated viewer, experimental films are just plain strange. If you come into a new situation without any background information or direct experience, you're uninitiated. An uninitiated guest of the Queen will be confused about when to bow or curtsy and which fork to use at lunch. For an uninitiated reader, the names and faces in a celebrity gossip magazine will be meaningless. To be initiated is to have secret or special knowledge. Add the prefix un-, and you get this adjective meaning "lacking knowledge."

Example Sentences

To the uninitiated, cross-country skiing looks like a graceful, rhythmic activity set against a hushed winter landscape.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

For the uninitiated, a no-spend challenge is just what it sounds like: a set period — usually a week or a pay cycle — when you put discretionary spending on hold.

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2026

It serves as a showcase for his substantial gifts as a songwriter, and efficiently brings the uninitiated up to speed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 9, 2025

But the rikishi brought plenty of excitement to the uninitiated, too, with former England prop Joe Marler calling it an "incredible spectacle".

From BBC • Oct. 20, 2025

On the other hand he had the advantage of the prominently wounded and of any veteran whose war years are forever a mystery to the uninitiated.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson