in·no·cent
(ĭńə-sənt)
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin innocēns, innocent-, in-, not; see in–1, + nocēns present participle of nocēre, to harm.]
adjective
- Uncorrupted by evil, malice, or wrongdoing; sinless: an innocent child.
- Not guilty of a specific crime or offense; legally blameless: was innocent of all charges.
- Within, allowed by, or sanctioned by the law; lawful.
- Not dangerous or harmful; innocuous: an innocent prank.
- Candid; straightforward: a child's innocent stare.
- Not experienced or worldly; naive.
- Betraying or suggesting no deception or guile; artless.
- Not exposed to or familiar with something specified; ignorant: American tourists wholly innocent of French.
- Unaware: She remained innocent of the complications she had caused.
- Lacking, deprived, or devoid of something: a novel innocent of literary merit.
noun
- A person, especially a child, who is free of evil or sin.
- A simple, guileless, inexperienced, or unsophisticated person.
- A very young child.
derivatives
- ińno·cent·ly
- adverb
