innocent

Not having committed the crime or wrong act someone is accused of.

• She is innocent.
• The jury found him innocent of theft.
• An innocent man spent years in prison.

How to use it: innocent of something (He was innocent of the crime.)

Similar words: not guilty, blameless

Opposites: guilty

Common phrases: innocent of something, prove someone innocent, innocent person, declare someone innocent

Having little experience of bad behaviour and not expecting people to hurt or deceive you.

• She was a trusting, innocent child.
• He gave me an innocent smile.
• They seemed too innocent to understand the danger.

Similar words: naive, guileless

Opposites: worldly

Common phrases: innocent child, innocent smile, young and innocent

Involving no wrong intention, dishonest behaviour, or moral fault.

• It was an innocent mistake.
• There may be an innocent explanation.
• Her innocent question caused an unexpected argument.

Similar words: blameless, harmless

Common phrases: innocent explanation, innocent mistake, innocent intentions

A person who has little experience of bad behaviour and easily trusts others.

• He was a complete innocent.
• She felt like an innocent abroad.
• The two innocents trusted everyone they met.

Similar words: naive person

Common phrases: a complete innocent, an innocent abroad

A person, especially a child, who has done nothing wrong.

• An innocent died in the attack.
• The war claimed the lives of many innocents.
• We must protect the innocents caught in this conflict.

Similar words: blameless person

Common phrases: protect the innocents, death of an innocent