innocent

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ˈɪnəsn̩t/

• Audio (US)

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Adjective

Positive innocent

Comparative more innocent

Superlative most innocent

1. If you are innocent you do not know evil.

   How could he hurt an innocent child?!?

   I was innocent once, but I've seen too many bad things since then.

2. If you are innocent of a crime you did not do that crime.

   I swore to the police that I was innocent.

Related words

• innocence

Synonyms

• (of a crime) not guilty

Antonyms

• jaded
• guilty

Related words

• amoral

Usage notes

• Even though innocent is similar to amoral in not knowing good from bad, amoral is usually a bad thing and innocent a good thing. Often, innocent means doing good because you have never thought of evil; an amoral person might do good or bad.
• In a court of law, innocent was used to mean "not guilty" but not usually now. Now it is correct to say "not guilty" in court (instead of "innocent").

Noun

Singular innocent

Plural innocents

1. Someone who is innocent. That is, someone who lacks evil or the knowledge of evil.

   He was a total innocent.

   1. If something bad happens to an innocent it means that the person did not deserve it.

      If you don't help save them, the blood of the innocents will be on your hand. (meaning, "...it will be your fault innocents have been hurt or killed.")