innocent

/ˈɪnəsənt/

/ˈɪnəsənt/

Other forms: innocents

You may think your fluffy white cat is just an innocent, or harmless, little kitty, but she shows no mercy when attacking that toy mouse.

Innocent is an adjective that describes someone or something that is not harmful or at least doesn’t cause harm on purpose. It can also be used when talking about a person who did not commit a crime. “Innocent until proven guilty” is a phrase that means people who have been accused of a crime should be considered innocent, or free of blame, unless a judge or jury decides that they are officially guilty.

Definitions of innocent

1. adjective

   free from sin
   synonyms: impeccant, sinless

   virtuous

   morally excellent
2. adjective

   free from evil or guilt
   “an innocent child”

   “the principle that one is innocent until proved guilty”

   synonyms: clean-handed, guiltless

   exculpatory

   clearing of guilt or blame

   absolved, clear, cleared, exculpated, exonerated, vindicated

   freed from any question of guilt

   acquitted, not guilty

   declared not guilty of a specific offense or crime; legally blameless

   blameless, inculpable, irreproachable, unimpeachable

   free of guilt; not subject to blame

   righteous

   characterized by or proceeding from accepted standards of morality or justice

   antonyms:

   guilty

   responsible for or chargeable with a reprehensible act

   inculpative, inculpatory

   causing blame to be imputed to

   at fault

   deserving blame

   blamable, blameable, blameful, blameworthy, censurable, culpable

   deserving blame or censure as being wrong or evil or injurious

   bloodguilty

   guilty of murder or bloodshed

   chargeable, indictable

   liable to be accused, or cause for such liability

   conscience-smitten

   affected by conscience

   criminal

   guilty of crime or serious offense

   delinquent

   guilty of a misdeed

   finable, fineable

   liable to a fine

   guilt-ridden

   feeling or revealing a sense of guilt

   punishable

   liable to or deserving punishment

   red-handed

   in the act of committing a crime or other reprehensible act

   unrighteous

   not righteous
3. adjective

   lacking intent or capacity to injure
   “an innocent prank”

   synonyms: innocuous

   harmless

   not causing or capable of causing harm
4. adjective

   lacking in sophistication or worldliness
   “a child's innocent stare”

   synonyms: ingenuous

   naif, naive

   marked by or showing unaffected simplicity and lack of guile or worldly experience
5. adjective

   not knowledgeable about something specified
   “American tourists wholly innocent of French”

   synonyms: unacquainted

   uninformed

   not informed; lacking in knowledge or information
6. adjective

   completely wanting or lacking
   “innocent of literary merit”

   synonyms: barren, destitute, devoid, free

   nonexistent

   not having existence or being or actuality
7. adjective

   (used of things) lacking sense or awareness
   “fine innocent weather”

   synonyms:

   unconscious

   not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
8. noun

   a person who lacks knowledge of evil
   synonyms: inexperienced person

   types:

   boy scout

   a man who is considered naive

   dear, lamb

   a sweet innocent mild-mannered person (especially a child)

   naif

   a naive or inexperienced person

   virgin

   a person who has never had sex

   type of:

   individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul

   a human being