ignorance
noun
ig·no·rance
ˈig-n(ə-)rən(t)s 
: the state or fact of being ignorant : lack of knowledge, education, or awareness
Ignorance of the law is no excuse for violating it.
made decisions in ignorance of [=without knowing] the true situation
Examples of ignorance in a Sentence
His racist attitudes were born out of ignorance.
an appalling ignorance about other cultures
Recent Examples on the Web
Our society seems to be spiraling into a vortex of callousness, ignorance, cynicism, violence, intolerance, and hate.
—
Rabbi Dan Levin, Sun Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026
While some of the women who came here willingly embraced ISIS ideology and passed it on to their children, many others say they were trafficked or lured to the region through ignorance or under false pretenses.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026
But if justice is to be understood as fairness, as per Rawls’s scheme, ignorance is the key concept.
—George G. Szpiro, Big Think, 9 Apr. 2026
And both reckon with the extent to which historical ignorance and the calculated distortion of the past threaten the foundation on which our country was built.
—Francine Prose, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ignorance
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Rabbi Dan Levin, Sun Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026
While some of the women who came here willingly embraced ISIS ideology and passed it on to their children, many others say they were trafficked or lured to the region through ignorance or under false pretenses.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026
But if justice is to be understood as fairness, as per Rawls’s scheme, ignorance is the key concept.
—George G. Szpiro, Big Think, 9 Apr. 2026
And both reckon with the extent to which historical ignorance and the calculated distortion of the past threaten the foundation on which our country was built.
—Francine Prose, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ignorance
Cite this Entry
“Ignorance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ignorance. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ignorance
noun
ig·no·rance
ˈig-nə-rən(t)s
: the state or fact of being ignorant : lack of knowledge, education, or awareness
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