ignorant

Adjective

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (3)

  1. uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication“an ignorant man”“nescient of contemporary literature”“an unlearned group incapable of understanding complex issues”“exhibiting contempt for his unlettered companions”Synonyms: nescientunlearnedunlettered
  2. uneducated in the fundamentals of a given art or branch of learning; lacking knowledge of a specific field“she is ignorant of quantum mechanics”“he is musically illiterate”Synonyms: illiterate
  3. unaware because of a lack of relevant information or knowledge“he was completely ignorant of the circumstances”“an unknowledgeable assistant”“his rudeness was unwitting”Synonyms: unknowledgeableunknowingunwitting
Advertisement

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Ignorant \Ig"no*rant\, a. [F., fr. L. ignorans, -antis, p. pr. of ignorare to be ignorant. See Ignore.]

1.Destitute of knowledge; uninstructed or uninformed; untaught; unenlightened. [1913 Webster]

He that doth not know those things which are of use for him to know, is but an ignorant man, whatever he may know besides.— Tillotson.[1913 Webster]

2.Unacquainted with; unconscious or unaware; -- used with of. [1913 Webster]

Ignorant of guilt, I fear not shame.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]

3.Unknown; undiscovered. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Ignorant concealment.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed?— Shak.[1913 Webster]

4.Resulting from ignorance; foolish; silly. [1913 Webster]

His shipping, Poor ignorant baubles! -- on our terrible seas, Like eggshells moved.— Shak.

Syn: Uninstructed; untaught; unenlightened; uninformed; unlearned; unlettered; illiterate. -- Ignorant, Illiterate. Ignorant denotes lack of knowledge, either as to single subject or information in general; illiterate refers to an ignorance of letters, or of knowledge acquired by reading and study. In the Middle Ages, a great proportion of the higher classes were illiterate, and yet were far from being ignorant, especially in regard to war and other active pursuits. [1913 Webster]

In such business Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the ignorant More learned than the ears.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
In the first ages of Christianity, not only the learned and the wise, but the ignorant and illiterate, embraced torments and death.— Tillotson.[1913 Webster]

Ignorant \Ig"no*rant\, n. A person untaught or uninformed; one unlettered or unskilled; an ignoramous. [1913 Webster]

Did I for this take pains to teach Our zealous ignorants to preach? --Denham. [1913 Webster]

Advertisement