Entry Word: ignorance

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 the state of being unaware or uninformed <ignorance of the law is no excuse>

Synonyms obliviousness, unawareness, unfamiliarity

Related Words callowness, greenness, inexperience, innocence, naïveté (also naivete), rawness, simpleness, unsophistication

Near Antonyms experience, know-how; sophistication

Antonyms acquaintance, awareness, familiarity

2 the state of being unlearned <with such vast sums spent on education, the level of ignorance among graduating seniors is a national disgrace>

Synonyms illiteracy

Related Words brainlessness, dumbness, idiocy, imbecility, stupidity; philistinism; foolishness, mindlessness, senselessness, witlessness

Near Antonyms education, instruction, training; enlightenment, knowledge; erudition, scholarship

Antonyms learning, literacy