innocent
25 synonyms and 3 antonyms for innocent, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Free of guilt or wrongdoing; not responsible for a crime or bad act.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use innocent
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French innocent, based on Latin innocens, literally "not harming" — in- ("not") plus nocens ("harming"), from the verb nocere, "to hurt."
Full origin of innocent →Frequently asked questions
What does “innocent” mean?
The word “innocent” means free of guilt or wrongdoing; not responsible for a crime or bad act. In plain terms, not guilty of doing anything wrong, or (for people) unworldly and trusting.
How do you pronounce “innocent”?
“Innocent” is pronounced IH-nuh-suhnt (/ˈɪnəsənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “innocent” in a sentence?
Here is “innocent” used in a sentence: “The jury found him innocent after the real culprit confessed.”
What is another word for “innocent”?
Words with a similar meaning to “innocent” include blameless, clean, clean-handed, clean as a hound's tooth, clean as a whistle and clear.
What is the opposite of “innocent”?
The opposite of “innocent” — its antonyms — are blameworthy, guilty and nocent.
What part of speech is “innocent”?
Depending on how it is used, “innocent” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “innocent” come from?
The word “innocent” comes from Latin. From Old French innocent, based on Latin innocens, literally "not harming" — in- ("not") plus nocens ("harming"), from the verb nocere, "to hurt.".
Is “innocent” a common word?
“Innocent” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between innocent and innocuous?
Innocent means free of guilt or wrongdoing, or sometimes naive and pure. Innocuous means harmless, unlikely to cause injury or offense. A person is innocent; a comment or substance is innocuous. The words are confused because both suggest a lack of harm, but one is about guilt and the other about danger.
What is the difference between innocent and guilty?
In law they are opposites. Innocent means not responsible for a crime or wrongdoing, while guilty means having committed it. Someone found innocent is cleared, while someone found guilty faces consequences. Courts presume a person innocent until proven guilty, placing the burden of proof on the accuser.
What are the different meanings of innocent?
Innocent has two main senses. The legal sense means free of guilt or not responsible for a crime. The everyday sense means naive, pure, or lacking experience, as in 'an innocent child.' It can also describe harmless intent, such as 'an innocent question' asked with no bad motive.
What is the opposite of innocent?
In the legal sense the opposite is guilty. When innocent means naive or pure, the opposites shift to worldly, experienced, or knowing. For 'an innocent remark,' the contrast might be a deliberate or malicious one. The right opposite depends on which sense of innocent you mean.