ignorant

[ig-ner-uh nt] /ˈɪg nər ənt/
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
Related forms
ignorantly, adverb
ignorantness, noun
nonignorant, adjective
nonignorantly, adverb
quasi-ignorant, adjective
quasi-ignorantly, adverb
self-ignorant, adjective
superignorant, adjective
superignorantly, adverb
unignorant, adjective
unignorantly, adverb
Can be confused
ignorant, stupid.
Synonyms
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.
Antonyms
1. literate. 2. learned.
Examples from the web for ignorant
  • But the canine expert also has critics who call his methods old-fashioned, cruel, and ignorant.
  • It is much easier to educate the ignorant than it is to stop them from earning a living so they can eat.
  • Do it, and speak up to other people who are ignorant.
  • ignorant of its cause and paranoid of the air itself, medieval society quickly descended into panic and mayhem.
  • Please don't be as ignorant, and continue to reinforce the stereotype that has been cast upon us for our entire history.
  • Two, a great many of us are at risk for the backlash by the ignorant.
  • Ignore ignorant comments and press on, thus not feeding the trolls.
  • It seems that the more ignorant you are, the more confident you are of your results.
  • The single-minded, uniformed secular mindset is equally as ignorant and unrealistic.
  • Maybe stop being so ignorant and do a bit of research yourself into evolution.
British Dictionary definitions for ignorant

ignorant

/ˈɪɡnərənt/
adjective
1.
lacking in knowledge or education; unenlightened
2.
(postpositive) often foll by of. lacking in awareness or knowledge (of): ignorant of the law
3.
resulting from or showing lack of knowledge or awareness: an ignorant remark
Derived Forms
ignorantly, adverb
Word Origin and History for ignorant
adj.

late 14c., from Old French ignorant (14c.), from Latin ignorantia, from ignorantem (nominative ignorans), present participle of ignorare "not to know, to be unacquainted; mistake, misunderstand; take no notice of, pay no attention to," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + Old Latin gnarus "aware, acquainted with" (cf. Classical Latin noscere "to know," notus "known"), from Proto-Latin suffixed form *gno-ro-, related to gnoscere "to know" (see know).

Form influenced by Latin ignotus "unknown." Cf. also uncouth. Colloquial sense of "ill-mannered" first attested 1886. As a noun meaning "ignorant person" from mid-15c.