# A better word for ignorance **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 8, 2010, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-better-word-for-ignorance/531710 "2010-03-08T10:21:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Deflagration](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ab097/32.png) [@Deflagration](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deflagration)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-better-word-for-ignorance/531710/1 "2010-03-08T10:21:16Z")
Ignorance can be defined in several ways. The ones I most commonly see are: 1. Where one lacks knowledge. 2. Where one is unaware of something 3. Where one chooses to subjectively ignore information I’m looking for a word that encompasses the 3rd definition and precludes the other 2. Where someone is being ignorant, not someone who is ignorant. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-better-word-for-ignorance/531710/2 "2010-03-08T10:25:41Z")
Obtuseness. ---
**Author:** ![Deflagration](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ab097/32.png) [@Deflagration](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deflagration)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-better-word-for-ignorance/531710/3 "2010-03-08T10:33:25Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Obtuseness. No. Someone who is obtuse is manipulating linguistic ambiguity. If anything they are less ignorant (in the 1st 2 definition sense) because they know of the double meaning. Or are being deliberately pedantic. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-better-word-for-ignorance/531710/4 "2010-03-08T10:34:23Z")
I think in common usage, ‘ignorant’ tends to be perceived as meaning 3 more than the other two - but maybe what you’re looking for is not a single word. How about _wilful ignorance_? ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-better-word-for-ignorance/531710/5 "2010-03-08T10:55:21Z")
Wilful ignorance is good. For a one word answer, maybe fanatic? ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-better-word-for-ignorance/531710/6 "2010-03-08T11:47:14Z")
Wilful ignorance. Culpable ignorance. Elective ignorance. Selective myopia / selective deafness. Turning a blind mind. Exhibiting [confirmation bias.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias) Obstructive. ---
**Author:** ![Qwakkeddup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90ced4/32.png) [@Qwakkeddup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwakkeddup)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-better-word-for-ignorance/531710/7 "2010-03-08T16:14:52Z")
To me, The first two are ignorance. The third doesn’t belong there, it belongs under the word “stupid”. It has always been explained to me that being ignorant is forgivable, you can learn and correct. Stupid however is the act of remaining convinced you are right even when given proof, or at least a majority answer to the contrary. Ignorance can be fixed, stupid is forever. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-better-word-for-ignorance/531710/8 "2010-03-08T16:19:25Z")
Oblivious? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-better-word-for-ignorance/531710/9 "2010-03-08T16:29:28Z")
On occasion, Obduracy. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-better-word-for-ignorance/531710/10 "2010-03-08T16:39:50Z")
You can’t get a better definition for #3 than “in denial.” “Cherry picking” also implies something similar, as the person is choosing which bits of information to emphasize and which to ignore (or at least downplay). ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-better-word-for-ignorance/531710/11 "2010-03-08T17:15:26Z")
Elective ignorance need not be stupidity, it can be quite the reverse, as it can also be called functional deniability. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-better-word-for-ignorance/531710/12 "2010-03-08T18:40:51Z")
Another vote for willful ignorance - it carries that connotation that the person lacking the relevant knowledge made the choice to avoid acquiring that knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-better-word-for-ignorance/531710/13 "2010-03-08T18:43:02Z")
How about “judgement prior to investigation?” That has a nice scientific ring to it.