unenlightened
UK: ˌʌnɪnˈlaɪtnd | US: ˌʌnɪnˈlaɪtnd
adj. lacking knowledge or awareness; not enlightened
adj. characterized by ignorance or narrow-mindedness
The word "unenlightened" combines the negative prefix "un-" with "enlighten," which metaphorically means "to illuminate the mind with knowledge." The suffix "-ed" turns it into an adjective describing a state of lacking intellectual or spiritual illumination. The term reflects the Enlightenment-era ideal of knowledge as light dispelling ignorance.
His unenlightened views on education sparked debate among the professors.
The documentary exposed the unenlightened policies of the past.
She dismissed his argument as unenlightened and outdated.
Traveling abroad helped him shed his unenlightened perspectives.
The book critiques unenlightened attitudes toward social progress.