innocent

Definitions

1. adjective

   Free from guilt, sin, or immorality.

   Examples

   • I'm sure there's an innocent explanation for all this.
   • The situation certainly looked bad, but it turned out that everything was innocent.
   ≈sackless≈guiltless≈blameless≈pure≈untainted
2. adjective

   Bearing no legal responsibility for a wrongful act.

   ≠guilty≠nocent
3. adjective

   Without wrongful intent or accidental or in good faith.

   Examples

   • He didn't mean anything by it; it was an innocent mistake.
   • The child's innocent question revealed the embarrassing truth in front of everyone.
4. adjective

   Naive or artless.

   Example

   • I can find out no rhyme to / 'lady' but 'baby' - an innocent rhyme;
   ≈ingenuous≈unworldly≈artless≈callow≈childlike +31 more
5. adjective

   Not harmful, innocuous, harmless, or benign.

   Examples

   • The spear / Sung innocent, and spent its force in air.
   • Although an innocent murmur is not an obstacle to participation in sports and exercise, a pathologic murmur may necessitate restrictions on the child's physical activity.
6. adjective

   Lacking (something), or knowledge of it.

   Examples

   • George was not a believer in modern innovations. The Abbey was innocent of anything so up to date as central heating.
   • At the beginning of July Stafford station was innocent of buildings, except for a couple of coach bodies to house the staff, but the temporary accommodation to cover the period of building the new station was well on the way to completion.
7. adjective

   Lawful or permitted.

   Example

   • an innocent trade
8. adjective

   Not contraband or not subject to forfeiture.

   Example

   • innocent goods carried to a belligerent nation
9. noun

   One who is innocent, especially a young child.

   Examples

   • The slaughter of the innocents was a significant event in the New Testament.
   • We were asked to strike that impossible balance between being innocents and whores.
10. noun

    A harmless simple-minded person or an idiot.