innocent

UK: ˈɪnəsənt | US: ˈɪnəsənt

Definition

  1. adj. not guilty of a crime or offense

  2. adj. free from moral wrong; pure

  3. adj. lacking knowledge or awareness (e.g., "innocent of the consequences")

Structure
in <not>noc <harm>ent <adjective suffix>
Etymology

innocent = in<not> + noc<harm> + ent<adjective suffix>

  • in-: Prefix meaning "not" (from Latin in-).
  • noc: Root meaning "harm" (from Latin nocēre, "to harm").
  • -ent: Adjective suffix indicating a state or quality (from Latin -entem).

Etymology Origin:
The word "innocent" traces back to Latin innocentem ("not harming"), combining in- (negation) + nocēre ("to harm"). It originally described someone free from guilt or wrongdoing, later expanding to imply purity or lack of awareness. The root noc also appears in "noxious" (harmful) and "innocuous" (harmless), showcasing its persistent tie to the concept of harm.

Examples

  1. The jury found the defendant innocent of all charges.

  2. She gave him an innocent smile, unaware of the trouble she caused.

  3. The child’s innocent question made everyone pause.

  4. The experiment was designed to be innocent of bias.

  5. His intentions were completely innocent, though misunderstood.