Innocent

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈɪnÉ™snÌ©t/

Origin

Old French inocent, from Latin innocens ("harmless, inoffensive"), from in- ("not") + nocēns, present participle of noceō ("to hurt").

Full definition of innocent

Adjective

1. (pure, free from sin, untainted)Free from guilt, sin, or immorality.
• 1606, William Shakespeare, , IV. iii. 16:to offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb
2. Bearing no legal responsibility for a wrongful act.
3. Naive; artless.
• 1600, William Shakespeare, , V. ii. 37:I can find out no rhyme to
  'lady' but 'baby' – an innocent rhyme;
4. (obsolete) Not harmful; innocuous; harmless.an innocent medicine or remedy
• Alexander PopeThe spear
  Sung innocent, and spent its force in air.
5. (with of) Having no knowledge (of something).
6. (with of) Lacking (something).
7. Lawful; permitted.an innocent trade
8. Not contraband; not subject to forfeiture.innocent goods carried to a belligerent nation

Synonyms

• (free from blame or guilt) sackless
• (free from sin) pure, untainted

Antonyms

• (bearing no legal responsibility for a wrongful act) guilty, nocent

Related terms

• innocence
• innocently
• innocuous

Noun

1. Those who are innocent; young children.The slaughter of the innocents was a significant event in the New Testament.----