ignorant
ignorant — adjective
1. knowing very little or nothing about a particular subject, fact, or situation; n
knowing very little or nothing about a particular subject, fact, or situation; not having the information needed to understand something.
Tyler was completely ignorant of the local customs when he first arrived in Taiwan.
ignorant of + noun phrase
Many people remain ignorant about where their food actually comes from.
ignorant about + clause
Nala felt ignorant during the physics discussion because she had never studied the subject.
Élise admitted she was ignorant of the new company policy until her manager explained it.
Rather than remain ignorant of the safety procedures, Mei-Lin asked her supervisor to explain them.
- uninformed
focuses on lacking specific information rather than general knowledge; 'uninformed voters'
- uneducated
broader — refers to lack of formal education; 'uneducated workforce'
- clueless
informal, slangy; stronger sense of complete cluelessness; 'clueless about fashion'
- knowledgeable
having a lot of information or understanding
- informed
having up-to-date or accurate information
- aware
knowing that something exists or is happening
文法句型
adjective
ignorant of + noun phrase
ignorant about + noun phrase/clause
用法筆記
Frequently paired with 'of' (ignorant of the facts) or 'about' (ignorant about how the system works). The fixed phrase 'blissfully ignorant' carries an ironic tone — it describes someone who is happily unaware of something unpleasant. In self-reference, 'ignorant' can sound harsh; English learners often prefer 'I don't know much about…' in casual speech.
常見錯誤
2. behaving or speaking in a way that is rude and shows a lack of respect toward ot
behaving or speaking in a way that is rude and shows a lack of respect toward others, often because the person does not realise their words or actions are offensive.
Vinícius made an ignorant comment about Reema's culture, which offended everyone at the table.
collocation: ignorant comment
Jenna was embarrassed by her uncle's ignorant behavior toward the waiters at the restaurant.
collocation: ignorant behavior
Trang was shocked by the ignorant remarks people made about her accent during the meeting.
Samir told his roommate that the ignorant jokes about other religions had to stop.
The teacher explained why certain words are considered ignorant and disrespectful in a multicultural classroom.
- rude
broader and more direct; does not imply lack of awareness
- polite
showing good manners and respect
- respectful
showing proper regard for others
文法句型
adjective
ignorant + noun (remark, comment, behavior)
用法筆記
This sense is stronger than 'rude' or 'impolite' — it adds the nuance that the disrespectful behavior stems from a lack of awareness or understanding, not just bad manners. Common in fixed phrases like 'ignorant remark' or 'ignorant comment,' describing unintentionally offensive statements. Be careful using this sense about a person directly ('you're ignorant') — it is highly insulting.