noun
Common
innocence
IH-nuhsns
Innocence (noun) means the state of not being guilty of a crime or wrongdoing. Example: “The jury was convinced of the man's innocence after hearing the witnesses.”
noun
1
The state of not being guilty of a crime or wrongdoing.
"The jury was convinced of the man's innocence after hearing the witnesses."
"He maintained his innocence throughout the trial."
"New evidence finally proved her innocence."
2
A lack of experience with, or exposure to, the harsher or more complicated sides of life.
"The children's innocence made them believe every story the clown told."
"He lost his innocence about money after his first year of work."
"The story is told through the innocence of a young child's eyes."
How to use innocence
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing not guilty of wrongdoing, or more broadly, being untouched by the darker, more cynical parts of life.
Common pairings
proclaim innocence
childhood innocence
prove innocence
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Word forms
- Plural
- innocences
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The jury was convinced of the man's _____ after hearing the witnesses.
Etymology
From Latin innocentia, "harmlessness," from innocens, "not harmful" — in- ("not") plus nocens ("harmful").
Synonyms
View more →
purity
naivety
virtue
naturalness
artlessness
ingenuousness
blamelessness
cleanness
inculpability
innocency
guiltlessness
unguilt
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for innocence
See all rhymes for innocence →Frequently asked questions
What does “innocence” mean?
The word “innocence” means the state of not being guilty of a crime or wrongdoing. In plain terms, being not guilty of wrongdoing, or more broadly, being untouched by the darker, more cynical parts of life.
How do you pronounce “innocence”?
“Innocence” is pronounced IH-nuhsns (/ˈɪnəsn̩s/ in IPA).
How do you use “innocence” in a sentence?
Here is “innocence” used in a sentence: “He maintained his innocence throughout the trial.”
What is another word for “innocence”?
Words with a similar meaning to “innocence” include blamelessness, cleanness, inculpability, innocency, guiltlessness and unguilt.
What is the opposite of “innocence”?
The opposite of “innocence” — its antonyms — is guilt.
What part of speech is “innocence”?
“Innocence” is a noun.
Where does the word “innocence” come from?
The word “innocence” comes from Latin. From Latin innocentia, "harmlessness," from innocens, "not harmful" — in- ("not") plus nocens ("harmful").
Is “innocence” a common word?
“Innocence” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between innocence and naivety?
Innocence can mean either not being guilty of wrongdoing or having a lack of experience with life's harsher realities, while naivety specifically emphasizes a lack of worldly experience or judgment, sometimes to the point of being easily fooled. Innocence in the legal sense (not guilty) has no equivalent meaning in naivety.
How is innocence used in a legal context?
In legal contexts, innocence refers to the state of not being guilty of a crime or wrongdoing, as in "the defendant maintained his innocence throughout the trial." This is distinct from the everyday sense of innocence as childlike inexperience.
What is a common phrase using innocence?
Common phrases include "proof of innocence," "presumption of innocence," and "childhood innocence," the first two relating to guilt or blame and the last relating to a lack of exposure to life's harsher sides.
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