Words / B1

IN-uh-snt/ˈɪnəsnt/

Innocent means not having done anything illegal or wrong: find someone innocent; innocent of the charge; an innocent man. Not guilty is the court verdict phrase; guilty is the opposite. Innocent can also mean harmless or lacking experience: an innocent question; innocent victims. Innocence is the noun. Innocent until proven guilty is a core legal idea. Do not write “innocent from the crime” — use innocent of. Innocently is the adverb.

Meaning

Not having done anything illegal or wrong.

Examples

• “The court found him innocent of the crime.”
• “The lawyer argued that her client was an innocent man.”
• “It was an innocent mistake, not a lie.”

Good to know

innocent of + charge. find someone innocent. Court pair: not guilty. Opposite: guilty. Noun: innocence. Harmless: an innocent question.

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