Nearby Words

ignorant

[ig-ner-uhnt] Origin

ig·no·rant

[ig-ner-uhnt]
adjective
1.
lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned: an ignorant man.
2.
lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact: ignorant of quantum physics.
3.
uninformed; unaware.
4.
due to or showing lack of knowledge or training: an ignorant statement.

Origin:
1325–75; Middle English ignora(u)nt < Latin ignōrant- (stem of ignōrāns), present participle of ignōrāre to ignore; see -ant

ig·no·rant·ly, adverb
ig·no·rant·ness, noun
non·ig·no·rant, adjective
non·ig·no·rant·ly, adverb
qua·si-ig·no·rant, adjective
EXPAND
qua·si-ig·no·rant·ly, adverb
self-ig·no·rant, adjective
su·per·ig·no·rant, adjective
su·per·ig·no·rant·ly, adverb
un·ig·no·rant, adjective
un·ig·no·rant·ly, adverb
COLLAPSE

ignorant, stupid (see synonym note at the current entry).


1. uninstructed, untutored, untaught. Ignorant, illiterate, unlettered, uneducated mean lacking in knowledge or in training. Ignorant may mean knowing little or nothing, or it may mean uninformed about a particular subject: An ignorant person can be dangerous. I confess I'm ignorant of mathematics. Illiterate originally meant lacking a knowledge of literature or similar learning, but is most often applied now to one unable to read or write: necessary training for illiterate soldiers. Unlettered emphasizes the idea of being without knowledge of literature: unlettered though highly trained in science. Uneducated refers especially to lack of schooling or to lack of access to a body of knowledge equivalent to that learned in schools: uneducated but highly intelligent. 2. unenlightened.


1. literate. 2. learned.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Ignorant is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
Collins
World English Dictionary
ignorant (ˈɪɡnərənt)
 
adj (often foll by of)
1.  lacking in knowledge or education; unenlightened
2.  lacking in awareness or knowledge (of): ignorant of the law
3.  resulting from or showing lack of knowledge or awareness: an ignorant remark
 
'ignorantly
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

ignorant
late 14c., from O.Fr. ignorant, from L. ignorantia, from ignorantem, prp. of ignorare from in- "not" + Old L. gnarus "aware, acquainted with," from Porot-L. suffixed form *gno-ro-, related to gnoscere "to know" (see know). Form influenced by ignotus "unknown." Cf. also
EXPAND
uncouth. Colloquial sense of "ill-mannered" first attested 1886.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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