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; 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

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

"It was stressful as it relates to the unknowing" of what was going to happen, Hardwick said of the shutdown, adding that people were "annoyed and frustrated" by the impasse.

From Barron's • Nov. 14, 2025

In an age of digital immediacy, film offers up these rare moments of unknowing, these chances for spontaneity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 11, 2025

But what's the driving the fear is a sense of unknowing - of if and when these raids will reach the Chinese community, or when the next downturn of China-US relations could be.

From BBC • Aug. 5, 2025

There were foggy days of unknowing for Bailey and me.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou