innocent

in·no·cent

adj \ˈi-nə-sənt\

Definition of INNOCENT

1

a : free from guilt or sin especially through lack of knowledge of evil : blameless <an innocent child> b : harmless in effect or intention <searching for a hidden motive in even the most innocent conversation — Leonard Wibberley>; also : candid <gave me an innocent gaze> c : free from legal guilt or fault; also : lawful <a wholly innocent transaction>

2

a : lacking or reflecting a lack of sophistication, guile, or self-consciousness : artless, ingenuous b : ignorant <almost entirely innocent of Latin — C. L. Wrenn>; also : unaware <perfectly innocent of the confusion he had created — B. R. Haydon>

3

: lacking or deprived of something <her face innocent of cosmetics — Marcia Davenport>

— innocent noun

— in·no·cent·ly adverb

Examples of INNOCENT

1. He says that he is innocent of the crime.
2. She was found innocent of all charges.
3. A person accused of a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty.
4. Someone told your secret, but it wasn't me. I'm innocent.

Origin of INNOCENT

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin innocent-, innocens, from in- + nocent-, nocens wicked, from present participle of nocēre to harm — more at noxious

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to INNOCENT

Synonyms: impeccable, pure, sinless, white

Antonyms: impure, peccant, sinful, sinning

Related Words: chaste, moral, virgin, virtuous; immaculate, spotless, unblemished, unstained, unsullied; decent, ethical, good, honest, honorable, righteous, upright, virtuous; blameless, guiltless

Near Antonyms: lascivious, lecherous, lewd, libidinous, lickerish, lustful, oversexed, unchaste; evil, immoral, iniquitous, reprobate, unrighteous, virtueless, wicked; corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, erring, fallen, lost, perverted; condemned, damned

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