Innocence
ˈɪnəsəns
Definitions
2 meaningsThe state of being not guilty of a crime or offense. Freedom from moral wrong; purity.
ˈɪnəsəns
The state of being free from guilt or sin.
The lawyer fought hard to prove his client's innocence.
💡 Simply: It's like when someone is accused of something, but they didn't do it. It's also like when someone is pure and good.
👶 For kids: Being innocent is like not doing anything wrong, or being a good person.
More Examples
The child's innocence was shattered by the harsh realities of the world.
She clung to her innocence in the face of adversity.
How It's Used
"The jury declared his innocence."
"The painting depicted the innocence of childhood."
"She maintained her innocence throughout the investigation."
Lack of worldly experience; naïveté.
ˈɪnəsəns
Lack of knowledge, experience, or sophistication.
The movie captured the innocence of their first love.
💡 Simply: Think of someone who's new to the world and doesn't know a lot about how things work. It can be cute, but sometimes makes them get tricked.
👶 For kids: Being innocent can also mean not knowing a lot of things, like being new to the world.
More Examples
His innocence about business dealings led to some bad investments.
She lost her innocence as she grew older and learned about the world.
How It's Used
"The novel explored the innocence of youth."
"Her innocence was charming, but sometimes naive."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
The innocence of youth
Refers to the lack of experience, naivete, and freedom from the complexities of the adult world that often characterizes childhood.
"The movie was a nostalgic look back at the innocence of youth."
From Old French *innocence*, from Latin *innocentia*, meaning 'harmlessness, blamelessness'. The Latin word combines *in-* (not) + *nocere* (to harm).
The word 'innocence' has been used in English since the 13th century, initially with a strong religious connotation, related to freedom from sin and moral purity.
Memory tip
Imagine an *in*-door scene where a child *no*-thing wrong, signifying innocence.
Word Origin
"not harmful, harmless, innocent"