unknowing

American  

[uhn-noh-ing] / ʌnˈnoʊ ɪŋ /

adjective

1. ignorant or unaware.

   unknowing aid to the enemy.

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unknowing British  

/ ʌnˈnəʊɪŋ /

adjective

1. not knowing; ignorant

2. without knowledge or unaware (of)

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Other Word Forms

• unknowingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of unknowing

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at un- ¹, knowing

Explanation

Unknowing means not having all the information you need to understand something. A bank robber's unknowing accomplice might drive the getaway car without realizing that's what he's doing. A teacher might be worried about an approaching storm and the possibility of tornadoes, while her unknowing class calmly completes an assignment. And you may try to protect the unknowing eyes of your little brother from the dead squirrel in the street because you know he'll get upset. There's a kind of innocence to the lack of knowledge that results in being unknowing. In the 14th century, there was also a verb, unknow, that meant "fail to recognize."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

unknowing

That led her to co-found the Coalition Against Stalkerware, an international working group tackling the problem of software tools frequently used to spy on unknowing romantic partners.

From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026

That changed in April 2023 when unknowing construction workers unceremoniously removed a disintegrating Pinky from its aerie.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

An unknowing visitor to the U.S. in 2026 might be forgiven for wondering why more Americans aren’t hobbling around in leg casts and wearing neck braces.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026

If they take her case, the justices will decide whether the fraudulent acts of a third-party tax preparer should expose unknowing clients to audits that could reach years into the past.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 27, 2026

Her face seemed to float in a cloud of unknowing.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri