innocent
IH-nuh-suhnt
Innocent (adj) means Free of guilt or wrongdoing; not responsible for a crime or bad act. Example: “The jury found him innocent after the real culprit confessed.”
adj
1
Free of guilt or wrongdoing; not responsible for a crime or bad act.
"The jury found him innocent after the real culprit confessed."
"The suspect was innocent; she was not even in the building that night."
"The court declared the young driver innocent of all the charges."
2
Not intended to cause harm or offense; harmless.
"It was an innocent mistake, not a deliberate insult."
"He asked an innocent question, unaware it would upset her."
"Her innocent remark about the haircut was meant as a compliment."
3
Naive or unaware of the world, especially in a childlike way.
"Toddlers have an innocent trust in everyone around them."
"The innocent little girl believed every story her brother told her."
"He was so innocent that he never suspected anyone would lie to him."
noun
1
A person, especially a child, who is free of guilt or worldly corruption.
"War always claims its share of innocents."
"The film shows how an innocent can be led astray in a big city."
"You must protect the innocents in your care from the dangers of the internet."
How to use innocent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot guilty of doing anything wrong, or (for people) unworldly and trusting.
Common mistake
Legally innocent means "not proven guilty," not necessarily "did nothing at all" — that distinction matters in courtroom contexts.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
innocent until proven guilty
innocent bystander
innocent mistake
plead innocent
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Word forms
- Plural
- innocents
- Comparative
- more innocent
- Superlative
- most innocent
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The jury found him _____ after the real culprit confessed.
Etymology
From Old French innocent, based on Latin innocens, literally "not harming" — in- ("not") plus nocens ("harming"), from the verb nocere, "to hurt."
Synonyms
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Related words
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.
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