Innocence

/ˈɪn.ə.səns/

Meaning & Definition

noun

The state of being free from moral wrong; the quality of being innocent.

Her innocence in the matter was evident, as she had no knowledge of the events that had transpired.

Lack of guile or corruption; purity.

He was struck by the innocence of the child's laughter, so untainted by the world's troubles.

The state of being naive or lacking experience.

In her innocence, she believed that everyone had good intentions.

The legal state of not having committed a crime.

The defendant maintained his innocence throughout the trial, confident that the truth would prevail.

A lack of knowledge or awareness about something.

His innocence regarding the complexities of adult life often led to amusing situations.

Middle English 'innocens', from Latin 'innocens', meaning 'not harming, free from crime'.

lost innocence

A situation where a person loses their naivety or purity, often through negative experiences.

innocence until proven guilty

A legal principle stating that a person is considered innocent until they are proven guilty in a court of law.

guilty of innocence

A phrase used to describe someone who unintentionally causes harm while being innocent of wrongdoing.

innocent

Free from moral wrong; not possessing guilt or sin.

naivety

The quality of being naive; lack of experience or sophistication.

virtue

Behavior showing high moral standards; a quality considered morally good.

Pure as the driven snow

She’s so innocent, she’s pure as the driven snow.

Green

He’s still green when it comes to the real world, full of innocence.