Ignorant
Definition
Ignorant is an adjective describing a lack of knowledge, education, or awareness about a particular subject or fact12. It can also imply a state of being uninformed or unaware3.
What It Doesn’t Mean
Ignorant does not mean the same as stupid or unintelligent. Stupidity implies a lack of intelligence, while ignorance simply refers to a lack of knowledge that can be remedied through learning4.
Ways People Misuse It
- Some people misuse “ignorant” to describe someone who is rude or uncivilized, which conflates lack of manners with lack of knowledge5.
- Others use it interchangeably with “ignorent,” which is not a recognized word in the English language6.
- It is also incorrectly used to label someone as permanently lacking intelligence, rather than temporarily lacking specific knowledge4.
Irony of the Misuse
The irony lies in the fact that those who misuse the word “ignorant” often display ignorance themselves by not understanding or choosing the correct term for the context7. This creates a self-referential error, where the act of calling someone ignorant may reveal one’s own ignorance.