innocence
noun
in·no·cence ˈi-nə-sən(t)s 
1
a
: freedom from legal guilt of a particular crime or offense
b
: freedom from guilt or sin through being unacquainted with evil : blamelessness
c
: lack of knowledge : ignorance
… written in entire innocence of the Italian language.
E. R. Bentley
E. R. Bentley d(1)
: freedom from guile or cunning : simplicity
(2)
: lack of worldly experience or sophistication
e
: chastity
2
: one that is innocent
3
: bluet
Synonyms
- blamelessness
- faultlessness
- guiltlessness
- impeccability
- innocency
- irreproachability
- irreproachableness
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He vows that he will prove his innocence in court. the trusting innocence of childhood The age of innocence was over.
Recent Examples on the Web The defense argued that the prosecution’s star witness, Jake Wagner, will only serve to prove his client’s innocence. Rebecca Rosenberg, Fox News, 12 Sep. 2022 White lilacs represent purity and innocence, while purple lilacs symbolize spirituality. Jenny Krane, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2022 Williams’ attorney, Brian Steel, maintains his client’s innocence. Tat Bellamy-walker, NBC News, 1 Sep. 2022 When harm happens on the other side of this division, the impulse to dissociate privileges one’s own innocence over the needs of those most impacted. WIRED, 26 Aug. 2022 In the book, Dawson was adamant about his friend's innocence. Nicole Chavez, CNN, 25 Aug. 2022 The president then initiates Ghost Protocol, disavowing Hunt and his team who go on the run and pull off a daring caper outside the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, to help prove the IMF's innocence. Terry Terrones, EW.com, 25 Aug. 2022 The firm’s report did not find any definitive proof of Glossip’s innocence but raised concerns about lost or destroyed evidence and a detective asking leading questions to Glossip’s co-defendant, Justin Sneed, to implicate Glossip in the slaying. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 18 Aug. 2022 In December 2021, the singer appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show and talked to the host about Casie's positivity and innocence. Julie Tremaine, Peoplemag, 18 Aug. 2022 See More
Rebecca Rosenberg, Fox News, 12 Sep. 2022 White lilacs represent purity and innocence, while purple lilacs symbolize spirituality. Jenny Krane, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2022 Williams’ attorney, Brian Steel, maintains his client’s innocence. Tat Bellamy-walker, NBC News, 1 Sep. 2022 When harm happens on the other side of this division, the impulse to dissociate privileges one’s own innocence over the needs of those most impacted. WIRED, 26 Aug. 2022 In the book, Dawson was adamant about his friend's innocence. Nicole Chavez, CNN, 25 Aug. 2022 The president then initiates Ghost Protocol, disavowing Hunt and his team who go on the run and pull off a daring caper outside the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, to help prove the IMF's innocence. Terry Terrones, EW.com, 25 Aug. 2022 The firm’s report did not find any definitive proof of Glossip’s innocence but raised concerns about lost or destroyed evidence and a detective asking leading questions to Glossip’s co-defendant, Justin Sneed, to implicate Glossip in the slaying. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 18 Aug. 2022 In December 2021, the singer appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show and talked to the host about Casie's positivity and innocence. Julie Tremaine, Peoplemag, 18 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b
Phrases Containing innocence
Kids Definition
innocence
noun
in·no·cence ˈi-nə-səns
: the quality or state of being free from sin or guilt
The evidence proved his innocence.
Legal Definition
innocence
noun
in·no·cence ˈi-nə-səns
: freedom from fault or guilt under the law: as
a
: the state of not being guilty of a particular crime or offense compare guilt
b
: the state of not being guilty of an act that constitutes a ground for divorce
c
: ignorance on the part of a party to a transaction of facts that would lead a person of ordinary prudence to make inquiries
innocence
noun
1
as in innocency
the quality or state of being free from guilt or blame the accused embezzler eventually proved her innocence and was released Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- innocency
- purity
- guiltlessness
- blamelessness
- integrity
- faultlessness
- impeccability
- goodness
- irreproachability
- incorruptibility
- virtuousness
- honesty
- morality
- harmlessness
- irreproachableness
- righteousness
- virtue
- uprightness
- decency
- sinlessness
- chastity
- inoffensiveness
- law-abidingness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- guilt
- culpability
- responsibility
- guiltiness
- blameworthiness
- evil
- criminality
- fault
- corruption
- immorality
- wickedness
- depravity
- sinfulness
- blame
- harmfulness
- offensiveness
- reprehensibleness
2
as in naturalness
the quality or state of being simple and sincere the innocence of the child's question touched everyone present Synonyms & Similar Words
- naturalness
- sincerity
- simplicity
- naïveté
- guilelessness
- ingenuousness
- naivety
- naivete
- naiveté
- artlessness
- naïvety
- ignorance
- naiveness
- optimism
- unworldliness
- greenness
- simpleness
- honesty
- idealism
- simplemindedness
- unsophistication
- genuineness
- frankness
- childishness
- openness
- straightforwardness
- inexperience
- unpretentiousness
- viridity
- candor
- carelessness
- rawness
- callowness
- unaffectedness
- unawareness
- impressionability
- gullibility
- credulousness
- thoughtlessness
- heedlessness
- obliviousness
- insularity
- credulity
- parochialism
- provincialism
- impracticality
- coltishness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cynicism
- sophistication
- worldliness
- artificiality
- dishonesty
- artfulness
- insincerity
- disbelief
- incredulity
- deviousness
- knowingness
- pretentiousness
- maturity
- skepticism
- suspiciousness
- wariness
- pessimism
- carefulness
- caution
- affectedness
- street smarts
- doubtfulness
3
as in ignorance
the state of being unaware or uninformed in my innocence I just assumed that quoted rate was for a week's stay and not for a single night at the health spa Synonyms & Similar Words
- ignorance
- naïveté
- unawareness
- cluelessness
- benightedness
- unfamiliarity
- obliviousness
- nescience
- naiveté
- naivete
- inexperience
- incognizance
- greenness
- callowness
- rawness
- unsophistication
- simpleness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- awareness
- familiarity
- acquaintance
- experience
- cognizance
- sophistication
- know-how
4
as in purity
the quality or state of being morally pure in Melville's novel, the sailor Billy Budd serves as a symbol of absolute innocence Synonyms & Similar Words
- purity
- goodness
- virtue
- modesty
- chasteness
- morality
- chastity
- virtuousness
- immaculacy
- righteousness
- rectitude
- decorum
- decency
- probity
- seemliness
- propriety
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- evil
- impurity
- sinfulness
- wickedness
- badness
- unchastity
- immodesty
- vulgarity
- indecency
- impropriety
- unrighteousness
- unchasteness