Innocent Meaning
/ˈɪnəsənt/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjFree from guilt, sin, or immorality.
adjBearing no legal responsibility for a wrongful act.
Sentence Examples
Masaru claims that he is innocent.
The man said he was innocent of the crime.
They have imprisoned an innocent man.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The jury declared the defendant ____ because there was no evidence against him.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The jury found the man ____ of all charges after the DNA evidence proved he was not at the scene.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English innocent, from Old French innocent, inocent, borrowed from Latin innocēns (“harmless, inoffensive”), from in- (“not”) + nocēns, present participle of noceō (“to hurt”). By surface analysis, in- (“not”) + nocent (“harmful; guilty”). Displaced native Old English unsċyldiġ.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"to offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb to appease an angry god"
— c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii], line 16:
"I can find out no rhyme to / 'lady' but 'baby' – an innocent rhyme;"
— c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, scene v], page ii, line 37:
"The spear / Sung innocent, and spent its force in air."
— 1715–1720, Homer, translated by Alexander Pope, “Book XXII”, in The Iliad of Homer, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC:
"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."
— 2006, David J. Driscoll, Fundamentals of Pediatric Cardiology, page 43:
"George was not a believer in modern innovations. The Abbey was innocent of anything so up to date as central heating."
— 1929, Agatha Christie, chapter 17, in The Seven Dials Mystery:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The jury declared the defendant ____ because there was no evidence against him.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The jury found the man ____ of all charges after the DNA evidence proved he was not at the scene.