ignorance

/ˈɪɡnərəns/

lack of knowledge or awareness

Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

This means people cannot claim they didn't know a law existed to avoid punishment.

general

A lack of knowledge, education, or awareness about a particular subject or situation.

His ignorance about local customs caused offense.

He didn't know about the customs and accidentally offended people.

Ignorance can be intentional or unintentional.

Collocations

willful ignorancedeliberately avoiding knowledgeblissful ignorancehappy because unaware of problemsignorance is blissnot knowing can be better than knowing

not knowing can be better than knowing

Be careful not to confuse 'ignorance' with 'stupidity'—ignorance refers to lack of knowledge, not lack of intelligence.

In legal contexts, ignorance of the law is generally not considered a valid defense.

From Middle English 'ignoraunce,' from Old French 'ignorance,' from Latin 'ignorantia,' from 'ignorare' (to not know).

Ignorance is often used neutrally, but it can carry negative connotations when referring to willful disregard for facts.

ignore

to disregard or not know

root

-ance

state or condition

suffix

English Dictionary