Word
ignorance
Phoneticsig·no·rance, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɪɡnɝəns/
UK/ˈɪɡnəɹəns/
Definitions
01lack of knowledge
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the state of not knowing about something that you should perhaps know.
n. the condition of being uninformed or uneducated; a lack of knowledge or information regarding a particular topic.
“His ignorance of the local laws led to a very expensive mistake.”
“The public's general ignorance regarding the long-term effects of the policy allowed the government to pass the legislation without significant opposition.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'of'.
Synonyms
02spiritual blindness
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Religion Academic · Formal
n. a lack of spiritual understanding or being unaware of religious truths.
n. a state of existential or spiritual blindness; in theological contexts, it refers to a lack of divine knowledge or moral insight.
“The monk spoke about overcoming spiritual ignorance through daily meditation.”
“In many Eastern philosophies, suffering is viewed as a direct consequence of fundamental ignorance regarding the true nature of the self.”
Teaching tip
In religious and academic contexts, this sense is often treated as a root cause of human error rather than just a simple lack of facts.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “ignorance” in context.
Verb
01. betray your ignorance
“His comments about the local culture only served to betray his ignorance of the region.”
verb + possessive + noun
02. plead ignorance
“He tried to plead ignorance when the manager asked why the safety protocols had been ignored.”
verb + noun
03. stem from ignorance
“Many of the prejudices held by the community stem from ignorance rather than malice.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
04. abysmal ignorance
“The report revealed an abysmal ignorance of basic economic principles among the students.”
adj + noun
05. willful ignorance
“The company's willful ignorance of environmental regulations led to a massive fine.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. confession of ignorance
“Admitting you don't know the answer is a brave confession of ignorance in such a competitive field.”
noun + of + noun
07. veil of ignorance
“The philosopher suggested that we should design a fair society from behind a veil of ignorance.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. in ignorance of
“They continued to operate in ignorance of the new laws that had been passed the previous month.”
prep + noun + prep
Real-World Examples
“When people resist using AI, rather than fear or ignorance, they may be expressing what they value.” “The American Association of People with Disabilities told NPR that such a shift would “drag our nation back to a dark and shameful era of ignorance and cruelty”.” “The fear, the hatred, the rejection, the uncomprehending ignorance it depicted rang true.” Etymology
From Middle English ignoraunce, ignorance, from From Old French ignorance, from Latin ignōrantia. By surface analysis, ignor(e) + -ance.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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