ignorant

Ignorant is an adjective that denotes a lack of knowledge or awareness about something. It can describe a person who does not know a fact or a broader area of information, or a situation that reflects such a gap. While in neutral use it can simply report a factual absence of knowledge, the term is more often used as a pejorative, implying carelessness, negligence, or a refusal to learn.

Etymology and history: The word derives from Latin ignorans, present participle of ignorare, to not know. It reached English via Old French and Middle English, with usage attested from the 15th century onward.

Nuance and scope: Ignorance may be innocent (not knowing) or willful (choosing not to learn or acknowledge). In philosophy and epistemology, ignorance is treated as a condition of lacking knowledge or justified belief. In everyday discourse, it can reflect social power dynamics or bias, and the same term may carry different weight depending on context and tone.

Usage notes: The construction "ignorant of" is standard (e.g., "ignorant of the policy"). The phrase "ignorant person" can be insulting, so alternatives such as unaware or uninformed might be preferable in sensitive contexts. Antonyms include informed, knowledgeable, cognizant.

See also: ignorance, ignoramus, willful ignorance.