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ignorant

adjective
ig·​no·​rant | \ ˈig-n(ə-)rənt How to pronounce ignorant (audio) \

Definition of ignorant

1a : destitute of knowledge or education an ignorant society also : lacking knowledge or comprehension of the thing specified parents ignorant of modern mathematics
b : resulting from or showing lack of knowledge or intelligence ignorant errors
2 : unaware, uninformed
Other Words from ignorant Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym The Polite and Not-So-Polite Uses of Ignorant More Example Sentences Learn More about ignorant

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Other Words from ignorant

ignorantly adverb
ignorantness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for ignorant

ignorant, illiterate, unlettered, untutored, unlearned mean not having knowledge. ignorant may imply a general condition or it may apply to lack of knowledge or awareness of a particular thing. an ignorant fool ignorant of nuclear physics illiterate applies to either an absolute or a relative inability to read and write. much of the population is still illiterate unlettered implies ignorance of the knowledge gained by reading. an allusion meaningless to the unlettered untutored may imply lack of schooling in the arts and ways of civilization. strange monuments built by an untutored people unlearned suggests ignorance of advanced subjects. poetry not for academics but for the unlearned masses

The Polite and Not-So-Polite Uses of Ignorant

Ignorant shares a root with the word ignore, one of those etymological connections which appear obvious once they are pointed out, yet remained overlooked by most. Both words come from the Latin ignorare (“to ignore, be ignorant of”). There are several meanings of ignorant, all of which are concerned with a lack of knowledge in some sense; some of these are more insulting than others, and care should be exercised before applying this word to people who you do not wish to offend. Saying “They were ignorant of most of the laws of physics” means that the people in question did not have a specific body of learning. Saying “You are an ignorant person” is possibly describing someone as primitive, crude, or uncivilized.

Examples of ignorant in a Sentence


 the World Series of the wild-card era is the pull of a slot-machine lever, a game of chance ignorant of form. Regularly populated now with second-place clubs or flavor-of-the-month teams more than dominant regular-season franchises 
 — Tom Verducci, Sports Illustrated, 30 Oct. 2006 That may be especially true for today's 
 13-year-olds, whose own moms and dads grew up largely ignorant of car seats, bike helmets, antibacterial soaps and childproof locks 
 — Nancy Gibbs, Time, 8 Aug. 2005 The joke is that the film was not his work. To refer to a producer's oeuvre is, at least to me, as ignorant as to refer to the oeuvre of a stockbroker. — David Mamet, Jafsie and John Henry: Essays, 1999 He is an ignorant old racist. She was ignorant about the dangers of the drug. It was an ignorant mistake.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Some objectors are simply ignorant and mean, but others make a coherent case that focusing on 1619, the year that enslaved Africans first stepped off a ship and into the British colonies, is misguided. — Mary Schmich, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Be curious. Be uncomfortable. Let yourself learn the history of slavery.," 23 Aug. 2019 At the time, this sentiment was an attempt to push back against the racist caricatures of Blackness as not only ignorant, but incapable of true leadership. — Steven Underwood, Essence, "Opinion: Is Black Excellence Killing Us?," 21 Aug. 2019 Many Nigerians are ignorant about limb loss and its causes, so TIF helps to enlighten them through radio and TV appearances says Chigbu. — Aisha Salaudeen, CNN, "This woman is helping disabled children walk for the first time," 9 Aug. 2019 Something clicked—maybe the natural appeal of rebuking an ignorant President with a barrage of footnotes, maybe the realization that, despite some fears to the contrary, Warren wasn’t at all like Hillary Clinton. — Benjamin Wallace-wells, The New Yorker, "At the Democratic Debate, Elizabeth Warren’s Reformism Versus Trump’s Moral Crisis," 27 June 2019 Even if Tapper’s right, the remarks remain racist, ignorant, and dangerous. — Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, "How Much More of Trump's Insanity Are We Willing to Take?," 12 Jan. 2018 The deputy made an ignorant, unreasonable decision that violated the man’s Fourth Amendment right by stopping him in what was actually a 55 m.p.h. — Anna Bauman, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan court rules in favor of drunk driver, says cop had wrong speed limit," 25 July 2019 Or inexperienced, ignorant, impaired or infused with hubris. — Shannon Tompkins, ExpressNews.com, "On the water, be safe and be nice, too," 20 July 2019 Or inexperienced, ignorant, impaired or infused with hubris. — Shannon Tompkins, Houston Chronicle, "On the water, be safe and be nice, too," 20 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ignorant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of ignorant

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for ignorant

see ignore

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More Definitions for ignorant

ignorant

adjective
How to pronounce ignorant (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of ignorant

: lacking knowledge or information
: resulting from or showing a lack of knowledge

See the full definition for ignorant in the English Language Learners Dictionary

ignorant

adjective
ig·​no·​rant | \ ˈig-nə-rənt How to pronounce ignorant (audio) \

Kids Definition of ignorant

1 : having little or no knowledge : not educated

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