WordGarden.ioinnocent
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈɪnəsənt/
US
- /ˈɪnəsənt/
Meanings
Adjective
not guilty of a crime or charge
free from moral blame, corruption, or wrongdoing
naive or lacking worldly knowledge and experience
More meaningsFewer meanings
harmless or not meant to cause trouble
Beyond the definition
To be innocent is to be free from guilt, or not yet shaped by the darker parts of life. A baby is often called innocent because they have not learned about harm, lies, or cruelty. But this idea is not only used for children. A person accused of a crime is innocent until proven guilty. The word can also describe something harmless, like an innocent mistake or an innocent question. Think of it as being without blame, bad intent, or much experience of evil.
The word "innocent" means more than simply "not guilty." It can describe someone who has not committed a crime, which is a basic idea in justice systems around the world: a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. But the word also points to a kind of purity, trust, and distance from wrongdoing.
Think of a child's wide-eyed view of the world; that is innocence. It often suggests that someone does not know much about evil, deceit, or cruel intentions. A character in a story may be described as innocent if they do not understand the darker side of life, which can make them seem gentle, open, and sometimes easy to hurt.
However, innocence can also be lost. We talk about losing our innocence when we go through something that breaks a trusting view of the world, such as betrayal, violence, or a painful truth.
The word is also used for situations and actions. An "innocent bystander" is someone caught in an event without taking part in it. An "innocent mistake" is a mistake made without any wish to cause harm. An "innocent question" may sound simple and honest, with no hidden purpose behind it.
So, whether it describes a legal state, a person's nature, or a harmless action, "innocent" is about being without guilt, blame, or harmful intent. It is a word that connects ideas of justice, goodness, trust, and human experience.
Examples
- 1
Legal claim
He says he's innocent, but the police don't believe him.
- 2
Mistake
It was an innocent mistake, but it still caused a lot of extra work.
- 3
Awkward question
I asked an innocent question, and suddenly everyone went quiet.
- 4
Guilty look
She put on an innocent face when her mother asked about the broken vase.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Naive person
When she first moved to the city, she was young and innocent.
- 6
Legal responsibility
The report found the company innocent of any wrongdoing.
- Patterninnocent of + wrongdoing
not responsible for something bad
- 7
Public incident
Two innocent bystanders were hurt when the fight spread into the street.
- Phraseinnocent bystander
someone who is not involved
- 8
Social risk
The joke sounded innocent enough at first, but it upset a few people.
- Phraseinnocent enough
probably harmless
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- innocentnounadjective
Forms
- innocentspluralnounadjective