unenlightened

U1N1E1N1L1I1G2H4T1E1N1E1D2

adjective

Not enlightened; ignorant in general or of some particular fact.

Similar
benighteddarkuninstructednaiveuninformed
Opposite
enlightened
OriginEnglish enlightened ← Middle English un- ← Old English un- →
UncommonScrabble 18
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Meanings

adjectiveunenlightened (comparative more unenlightened, superlative most unenlightened)

comparative more unenlightened · superlative most unenlightened

  1. Not enlightened; ignorant in general or of some particular fact.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivenot enlightened; ignorant

Similar
benighteddark
Opposite
enlightened

adjectivelacking information or instruction

Similar
uninstructednaiveuninformed
Also see
benighteddarkignorantnaiveuncultureduninstructed

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Indo-European*n̥-
  3. Proto-Germanic*un-
  4. Proto-West Germanic*un-
  5. Old Englishun-
  6. Middle Englishun-
  7. Englishun-
  8. Englishenlightened
  9. Englishunenlightened

From un- + enlightened.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

unenlightened. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unenlightened

MLA

“unenlightened.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unenlightened. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “unenlightened,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unenlightened.

Source: unenlightened on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.