ignorant

UK: /ˈɪgnərənt/ US: /ˈɪgnərənt/ ,(ig′nər ənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ig•no•rant /ˈɪgnərənt/   adj. 

1. of or relating to ignorance:
   How can you blame the ignorant masses?
2. uninformed;
   unaware:
   [be + ~ + of] ignorant of most of the charges brought against her.

ig•no•rant•ly, adv. See -gnos-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ig•no•rant  (ig′nər ənt), adj. 

1. lacking in knowledge or training;
   unlearned:
   an ignorant man.
2. lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact:
   ignorant of quantum physics.
3. uninformed;
   unaware.
4. due to or showing lack of knowledge or training:
   an ignorant statement.

• Latin ignōrant- (stem of ignōrāns), present participle of ignōrāre to ignore; see -ant
• Middle English ignora(u)nt 1325–75

ig′no•rant•ly, adv. 
ig′no•rant•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. uninstructed, untutored, untaught.
  Ignorant, illiterate, unlettered, uneducated mean lacking in knowledge or in training.
  Ignorant may mean knowing little or nothing, or it may mean uninformed about a particular subject:
  An ignorant person can be dangerous. I confess I'm ignorant of mathematics.
  Illiterate originally meant lacking a knowledge of literature or similar learning, but is most often applied now to one unable to read or write:
  necessary training for illiterate soldiers.
  Unlettered emphasizes the idea of being without knowledge of literature:
  unlettered though highly trained in science.
  Uneducated refers especially to lack of schooling or to lack of access to a body of knowledge equivalent to that learned in schools:
  uneducated but highly intelligent.
• 2. unenlightened.

Antonyms

• 1. literate.
• 2. learned.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ignorant / ˈɪɡnərənt/ adjective

1. lacking in knowledge or education; unenlightened
2. (postpositive) often followed by of: lacking in awareness or knowledge (of): ignorant of the law
3. resulting from or showing lack of knowledge or awareness: an ignorant remark

ˈignorantly adverb