professed ignorance

USAGE SUMMARY

'professed ignorance' is a correct phrase that is used in written English.
It means that someone is admitting that they don't know something. For example, when asked to explain the situation, he professed ignorance.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

David Johnson, a top doubles squash player who was refereeing, professed ignorance about how this worked.

The New York Times - Sports

Molotov — who, unlike many of Stalin's associates, lived to a ripe old age — typically professed ignorance about the fates of the people whose deaths he ordained.

The New York Times - Books

Democratic negotiators, noting that they had also been victims of unflattering leaks, were officially apologetic and professed ignorance about how the latest breach might have occurred.

The New York Times

Rubio's professed ignorance has shifted to skepticism – a sign that many Republicans have reluctantly accepted that the issue exists for voters, if not that the issue matters.

The Guardian

The local police chief, Guillermo Prieto Quintana, professed ignorance of the conflict, despite having been an officer here for 30 years.

The New York Times

However, his pronouncements on the subject of evolution were puzzling and contradictory; in later years he alternately denied its validity, professed ignorance on the matter, and claimed to have come up with the idea himself almost ten years before Darwin.

University of California, Berkeley

They said they had enlisted for a 10-day tour of duty after pro-Qaddafi recruiters had told them they would be fighting foreign terrorists and mercenaries, but they offered little explanation for their professed ignorance of the Libyan revolt.

The New York Times

Mr Opik, who believes that he too was a victim of phone tapping by Mr Coulson's former paper, the News of the World, said the Government communications director's professed ignorance of what his employees were doing is damning in itself.

Independent

President Bush's top disaster managers -- the Homeland Security secretary, Michael Chertoff, as well as the notorious "Brownie" -- professed ignorance of New Orleans's humanitarian crisis a full day after the nation had started watching it live in real time on television.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The announcement of a royal commission by the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, was welcomed by Giles, who – despite several years of questioning over the issue – professed shock and ignorance about the abuse in the Don Dale juvenile detention centre.

The Guardian

So long as Mr. Mukasey claims ignorance on interrogation techniques, his professed opposition to torture is meaningless.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "professed ignorance", ensure the context clearly indicates whether the ignorance is genuine or potentially disingenuous. The phrase itself doesn't inherently convey intent, so clarity is crucial.

Common error

Avoid assuming that someone "professing ignorance" is necessarily truthful. The phrase simply indicates a claim of not knowing, which could be strategic or deceptive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "professed ignorance" functions as a verbal phrase often used to describe a subject's declaration or assertion of a lack of knowledge about a particular matter. It indicates a claim, whether truthful or not, regarding one's awareness or understanding, as supported by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

15%

Science

9%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "professed ignorance" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe someone's claim of lacking knowledge about something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is frequently encountered in news and media, as well as academic contexts. While the phrase itself doesn't indicate whether the ignorance is genuine or feigned, it's crucial to consider the context to discern the intent behind the claim. Related phrases such as "claimed unawareness" or "feigned ignorance" can add nuance, suggesting varying degrees of truthfulness. When writing, remember that using "professed ignorance" effectively requires a clear understanding of the situation to avoid misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

professed unfamiliarity

Similar to "professed ignorance" but focuses on a lack of familiarity rather than outright ignorance.

avowed lack of knowledge

Focuses on openly admitting to not possessing certain information.

claimed unawareness

Emphasizes the act of asserting a lack of awareness, similar to professing ignorance but with a stronger implication of potential deception.

expressed lack of information

A straightforward way of stating that one does not have the necessary information.

declared unfamiliarity

Implies a formal statement of not being acquainted with a particular subject or situation.

pleaded ignorance

Suggests a formal or legal context where ignorance is used as a defense or excuse.

disclaimed awareness

Indicates a rejection of any association with the knowledge in question.

feigned ignorance

Highlights the insincerity of the claim, implying the person is pretending not to know something.

asserted nescience

Uses more formal and technical language to declare a lack of knowledge.

maintained innocence of knowledge

A more elaborate way of saying someone denies knowing something, often used in legal or serious contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "professed ignorance" in a sentence?

You can use "professed ignorance" to describe someone claiming they don't know about something. For example, "The politician "professed ignorance" regarding the financial scandal."

What are some alternatives to saying "professed ignorance"?

Alternatives include "claimed unawareness", "pleaded ignorance", or "feigned ignorance depending on the context and the intent you want to convey".

Is it correct to say "professed ignorance"?

Yes, "professed ignorance" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in English. It indicates a declaration or claim of not knowing something.

What's the difference between "professed ignorance" and "feigned ignorance"?

"Professed ignorance" simply means someone claims to not know something, while "feigned ignorance" implies they are pretending to not know, suggesting deception.