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
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
That denial of reality — rooted in ignorance and contempt for science — is now official policy, as evidenced by the EPA’s rescinding of its landmark finding that greenhouse gases harm public health.
—James Speyer, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Of particular concern, the organization took steps to hide its money in shell political action committees and coordinated donations via individual donors while the candidates who benefited often feigned ignorance about enormous donations and expenditures.
—Jesse Jackson Jr, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
His method of intellectual humility is to admit ignorance, test variables and revise working hypotheses based on new data, staying open to suggestions from others the whole time.
—Deana L. Weibel, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ignorance
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Francine Prose, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
That denial of reality — rooted in ignorance and contempt for science — is now official policy, as evidenced by the EPA’s rescinding of its landmark finding that greenhouse gases harm public health.
—James Speyer, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Of particular concern, the organization took steps to hide its money in shell political action committees and coordinated donations via individual donors while the candidates who benefited often feigned ignorance about enormous donations and expenditures.
—Jesse Jackson Jr, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
His method of intellectual humility is to admit ignorance, test variables and revise working hypotheses based on new data, staying open to suggestions from others the whole time.
—Deana L. Weibel, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 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 10 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
