Meaning & use
socially ignorant
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivenot comparabledisapproving
not knowing or not caring about accepted social rules and behavior.
Grammar: Used after linking verbs like 'be' or 'seem', or before a noun: He seemed socially ignorant.
Patterns
- be socially ignorant
- a socially ignorant remark
He seemed socially ignorant, asking personal questions at the dinner table.
Her socially ignorant comments upset several guests.
Calling someone socially ignorant is a harsh criticism.
Common combinations
- socially ignorant behavior
- His socially ignorant behavior made everyone uncomfortable.
- seem socially ignorant
- She seemed socially ignorant because she never greeted anyone.
- socially ignorant remark
- That was a socially ignorant remark about her accent.
Synonyms and how they differ
- socially unaware
- Milder; it suggests a lack of awareness rather than a fault.
- uncouth
- Describes rough, impolite manners rather than lack of social knowledge.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: socially ignorant or ignorant?
socially ignorant vs ignorant
On its own it means lacking knowledge in general; with 'socially' it is limited to social rules and behavior.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'socially ignorant' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase describes a lack of social manners, so B fits. An is about practical knowledge, not social rules. C misuses it for a thing, and D is missing a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “socially ignorant”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.