ENGLISH
REFERENCE

innocent

n.
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈɪnəsənt// UK //ˈɪnəsənt// in·no·cent Archaic General-service

n. not guilty of a crime or doing something wrong. It also describes someone who is simple and does not have much experience with the bad parts of life.

n. free from moral wrong or not responsible for a specific crime or event. Often used to describe a lack of worldly experience or sophistication.


SIMPLE

The jury found the man innocent of all charges.

CONTEXTUAL

The lawyer worked for years to prove that his client was innocent and had been framed.

COMPLEX

While the legal system presumes a defendant is innocent until proven guilty, the court of public opinion often reaches a verdict long before the trial even begins.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English innocent, from Old French innocent, inocent, borrowed from Latin innocēns (“harmless, inoffensive”), from in- (“not”) + nocēns, present participle of noceō (“to hurt”). By surface analysis, in- (“not”) + nocent (“harmful; guilty”). Displaced native Old English unsċyldiġ.

Usage

Commonly followed by the preposition 'of' when referring to a specific charge or action.

Pitfall

he is innocent from the crimehe is innocent of the crimeThe adjective 'innocent' collocations with the preposition 'of', not 'from'.

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