ignorant of

USAGE SUMMARY

'ignorant of' is a perfectly valid and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to express that a person or group does not know about something, or is unfamiliar with a certain topic. For example, you could say "He was completely ignorant of the proper protocol for the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

How ignorant of us.

The Guardian - Music

e. ignorant of.

The New York Times

I was basically ignorant of it".

The New York Times

I was ignorant of the setting".

The New Yorker

I'm just ignorant of these things".

The Economist

I'm pretty ignorant of archeology.

The New York Times - Magazine

Ignorant of the Bible's history?

The Guardian - Books

Teenagers are surprisingly ignorant of the Bible.

The New Yorker

They are ignorant of what is important.

The Guardian - Opinion

Voters are ignorant of and bored by regulation.

The Economist

Those ignorant of its allures are entitled to wonder why".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ignorant of" when describing a lack of knowledge or awareness, particularly when the information is readily available or expected to be known. This can convey a sense of negligence or oversight.

Common error

Avoid using "ignorant of" when you mean "ignoring". "Ignorant of" refers to a lack of knowledge, while "ignoring" means deliberately disregarding something. For example, "He was ignorant of the rules" (he didn't know them) vs. "He was ignoring the rules" (he knew them but chose not to follow them).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ignorant of" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a preposition, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a lack of knowledge or awareness. Ludwig examples confirm its use to describe someone's state of being uninformed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ignorant of" is a commonly used phrase to describe a lack of knowledge or awareness. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as an adjective phrase, often found in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. While grammatically correct, it's crucial to distinguish it from "ignoring" to avoid confusion. Ludwig AI suggests using alternatives like "unaware of" or "oblivious to" for nuanced expression. Remember to clearly state what the subject is "ignorant of" to avoid ambiguity and to choose the phrase when you specifically mean a lack of knowledge, not deliberate disregard.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unaware of

Indicates a lack of knowledge or consciousness about something.

oblivious to

Suggests a lack of awareness, often implying that someone is failing to notice something obvious.

uninformed about

Highlights a lack of information on a specific topic.

clueless about

Implies a complete lack of understanding or knowledge, often in a more informal context.

in the dark about

Means being kept uninformed or not knowing something that others might know.

nescient of

A more formal and less common way of saying "ignorant of".

unacquainted with

Suggests a lack of familiarity with something.

green to

Describes inexperience or unfamiliarity, often used in informal contexts.

blind to

Indicates a lack of awareness or understanding, often implying a deliberate oversight.

unversed in

Means not skilled or knowledgeable about a particular subject.

FAQs

What does "ignorant of" mean?

The phrase "ignorant of" means lacking knowledge or awareness about something. It indicates a state of being uninformed or unfamiliar with a particular subject or fact.

What can I say instead of "ignorant of"?

You can use alternatives like "unaware of", "oblivious to", or "uninformed about" depending on the context.

How do I use "ignorant of" in a sentence?

You can use "ignorant of" to describe someone's lack of knowledge. For example, "Many people are "ignorant of" the facts surrounding climate change", or "She was "ignorant of" the local customs".

What is the difference between "ignorant of" and "unaware of"?

While both phrases indicate a lack of knowledge, "ignorant of" can sometimes carry a slightly more negative connotation, suggesting a blameworthy lack of awareness. "Unaware of" is generally more neutral and simply indicates a lack of knowledge without necessarily implying fault.