ignorant
She was ignorant of the cultural norms in her new country.
She didn't know the cultural rules in her new country.
Lacking knowledge, education, or awareness about a particular subject or situation.
He was ignorant of the dangers of smoking.
He didn't know the risks of smoking.
Ignorance is not an excuse for breaking the law.
Not knowing the law doesn't justify breaking it.
The term can be neutral or negative depending on context.
Collocations
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoiding offense
Use 'uninformed' or 'unaware' instead of 'ignorant' to sound more neutral.
Gold Rule
Context matters
'Ignorant' can be offensive if used to describe people rather than situations.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'ignorant', from Old French 'ignorant', from Latin 'ignorans', present participle of 'ignorare' (to not know).
Usage Notes
While 'ignorant' can describe a lack of knowledge, it is often used to imply a negative judgment about someone's lack of awareness.