Word
ignorant
Phoneticsig·no·rant, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɪɡnɝənt/
UK/ˈɪɡnəɹənt/
Definitions
01lacking knowledge
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. not knowing about something or lacking education in a specific area.
adj. destitute of knowledge or education; lacking information regarding a specific subject.
“Many people are ignorant of the new tax laws that were passed last year.”
“The public remains largely ignorant of the complex geopolitical factors that precipitated the current energy crisis.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'of'.
Pitfall
He is ignorant about the law.
He is ignorant of the law.
While 'about' is sometimes used, 'ignorant of' is the standard prepositional pairing for this sense.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02rude or ill-mannered
C1 · Advanced Informal · Dialect
adj. behaving in a way that is rude, impolite, or shows a lack of respect.
adj. displaying a lack of manners or social grace; discourteous.
“It was very ignorant of him to interrupt the speaker in the middle of a sentence.”
“The customer's ignorant behaviour toward the waitstaff caused a significant disturbance in the dining room.”
Teaching tip
In many dialects, particularly in British and Irish English, this is a very common way to call someone rude rather than just uninformed.
Real-World Examples
“It would be hard to overstate how ignorant the Founders of the United States were about their own country.” “Your comments above are carelessly ignorant, cruel and false.” Etymology
From Old French ignorant, from Latin ignōrāns (“unaware, unknowing”). By surface analysis, ignore + -ant.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/ignorant