Meaning & use
ignorance
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Meanings
noununcountable
The state of not knowing something, or not having been taught about it.
Grammar: No plural and no article: ignorance of the law.
Patterns
- ignorance of something
- ignorance about something
Her ignorance of local customs caused a few awkward moments.
He admitted his ignorance about computers.
Ignorance of the rules is not an excuse for breaking them.
noununcountabledisapproving
A general lack of education or awareness, often leading to foolish or unfair attitudes.
Grammar: Often used in a critical way about attitudes in society.
Patterns
- fight ignorance
Education is the best way to fight ignorance.
Prejudice often comes from ignorance.
The speaker blamed ignorance for the spread of the rumors.
Common combinations
- plead ignorance
- He pleaded ignorance when asked about the missing money.
- ignorance of the law
- Ignorance of the law is no defense.
- blissful ignorance
- She lived in blissful ignorance of the danger.
- wilful ignorance
- Wilful ignorance of the facts is hard to excuse.
- sheer ignorance
- The mistake was due to sheer ignorance.
Synonyms and how they differ
- unawareness
- Unawareness is a milder, more neutral term and rarely sounds like blame.
- naivety
- Naivety is about lacking life experience, whereas ignorance is about lacking knowledge.
- illiteracy
- Illiteracy refers to being unable to read or write, a narrower idea than ignorance.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: ignorance or ignoring?
ignorance vs ignoring
Ignoring is choosing to pay no attention to something. Ignorance is not knowing about it in the first place.
Practice
She was unaware of the new rules, and her ____ led to a fine.
Choose one answer.
A noun is needed after her, and ignorance names the lack of knowledge. Ignoring would suggest she deliberately paid no attention.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ignorance”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.