innocent

comparative more innocent · superlative most innocent · alternative hinnocent

1. Free from guilt, sin, or immorality.

   I'm sure there's an innocent explanation for all this.

   3 more examples

   The situation certainly looked bad, but it turned out that everything was innocent.

   to offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb to appease an angry god

   c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii], line 16

   2018 September 26, Brian Karem, "Bethesda Resident Describes "Culture Of Privilege" Leading To Exploitation And Abuse" in The Montgomery County Sentinelhttps://web.archive.org/web/20180927140428/https://mont.thesentinel.com/2018/09/26/bethesda-resident-describes-culture-of-privilege-leading-to-sexual-assault/ "These were not innocent times," she said.

   Synonyms: sackless, guiltless, blameless, pure, untainted

2. Bearing no legal responsibility for a wrongful act.

   Antonyms: guilty, nocent

3. Without wrongful intent; accidental or in good faith.

   He didn't mean anything by it; it was an innocent mistake.

   1 more example

   The child's innocent question revealed the embarrassing truth in front of everyone.

4. Naive; artless.

   I can find out no rhyme to / 'lady' but 'baby' – an innocent rhyme;

   c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, scene v], page ii, line 37

   Synonyms: ingenuous, unworldly, artless, callow, childlike, verdant, clueless, credulous · Antonyms: perverse

5. obsolete except medicineNot harmful; innocuous; harmless; benign.

   The spear / Sung innocent, and spent its force in air.

   1715–1720, Homer, “Book XXII”, in Alexander Pope, transl., The Iliad of Homer, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   Although an innocent murmur is not an obstacle to participation in sports and exercise, a pathologic murmur may necessitate restrictions on the child's physical activity.

   2006, David J. Driscoll, Fundamentals of Pediatric Cardiology, page 43

6. with ofLacking (something), or knowledge of it.

   George was not a believer in modern innovations. The Abbey was innocent of anything so up to date as central heating.

   1929, Agatha Christie, chapter 17, in The Seven Dials Mystery

   2 more examples

   At the beginning of July Stafford station was innocent of buildings, except for a couple of coach bodies to house the staff, but the temporary accommodation to cover the period of building the new station was well on the way to completion.

   1960 September, “Talking of Trains: Progress at Stafford”, in Trains Illustrated, page 522

   Her only slight comfort is that they are not as bad as the new litter of Awful children who resulted from this marriage, Lisa, Adam, Jason, and Kristen. By all reports, they are entirely innocent of manners of any kind.

   1983, Judith Martin, Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior, page xvii

7. Lawful; permitted.

   an innocent trade

8. Not contraband; not subject to forfeiture.

   innocent goods carried to a belligerent nation

plural innocents · alternative hinnocent

1. One who is innocent, especially a young child.

   The slaughter of the innocents was a significant event in the New Testament.

   1 more example

   We were asked to strike that impossible balance between being innocents and whores.

   1991 February 11, Jennifer Justice, “Farewell Lavender Hearts”, in Gay Community News, volume 18, number 29, page 9

2. obsoleteA harmless simple-minded person; an idiot.

plural Innocents

1. A surname.