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Innocence vs Innocent - What's the difference?

innocence | innocent | Related terms |

Innocent is a related term of innocence.



As nouns the difference between innocence and innocent

is that innocence is absence of responsibility for a crime while innocent is those who are innocent; young children.

As an adjective innocent is

(pure, free from sin, untainted)Free from guilt, sin, or immorality.

innocence

English

Noun

(-)
  • Absence of responsibility for a crime.
  • Lack of understanding about sensitive subjects such as sexuality and crime.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
    • , chapter=9 citation , passage=Eustace gaped at him in amazement. When his urbanity dropped away from him, as now, he had an innocence of expression which was almost infantile. It was as if the world had never touched him at all.}}
  • Lack of ability or intention to harm or damage.

    • Antonyms

    * (absence of responsibility for a crime) guilt * (absence of ability to harm) harmfulness

    Synonyms

    * (lack of sensitive subjects) naivety * (absence of ability to harm) harmlessness * (freedom from guilt) unguilt, unguiltness

    Related terms

    * innocent

    innocent

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Free from guilt, sin, or immorality.
  • * 1606 , , IV. iii. 16:
    • to offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb
  • Bearing no legal responsibility for a wrongful act.
  • Naive; artless.
  • * 1600 , , V. ii. 37:
    • I can find out no rhyme to / 'lady' but 'baby' – an innocent rhyme;
  • (obsolete) Not harmful; innocuous; harmless.
    • an innocent medicine or remedy
  • * Alexander Pope
    • The spear / Sung innocent , and spent its force in air.
  • Having no knowledge (of something).
  • Lacking (something).
  • Lawful; permitted.
    • an innocent trade
  • Not contraband; not subject to forfeiture.
    • innocent goods carried to a belligerent nation

    Synonyms

    * (free from blame or guilt) sackless * (free from sin) pure, untainted * See also

    Antonyms

    * (bearing no legal responsibility for a wrongful act) guilty, nocent

    Related terms

    * innocence * innocently * innocuous

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Those who are innocent; young children.
    • The slaughter of the innocents was a significant event in the New Testament.
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