Definition of: innocence

(in′ə·səns) noun
1. The state of being innocent; the condition of being free from evil or guile, or from that which corrupts or vitiates; purity of heart; freedom from taint.
2. Freedom from guilt, as of some specific crime or charge; absence of legal guilt.
3. Freedom from harmful or noxious qualities; harmlessness; innocuousness.
4. Simplicity or ignorance through lack of intellect or imperfect development; hence, weak–mindedness.
5. Freedom from illegal taint, as violation of an embargo or blockade by conveying goods to a belligerent.
6. A bluet.
7. A slender–stemmed, erect herb (Collinsia verna) with a blue and white corolla; also a related California herb (C. bicolor). [<OF <L innocentia] Synonyms: blamelessness, goodness, guilelessness, guiltlessness, harmlessness, innocuousness, inoffensiveness, purity, simplicity, sincerity, sinlessness, stainlessness, virtue. Innocence, which is goodness without temptation or trial, or perhaps without knowledge of evil, is less than virtue which is goodness that resists and overcomes temptation. Compare synonyms for INNOCENT. Antonyms: contamination, corruption, crime, criminality, evil, fault, guile, guilt, harm, harmfulness, hurt, hurtfulness, impurity, ruin, sin, sinfulness, stain, wrong.