What is the difference between ignorance and stupidity?
In this article, I will compare ignorance and stupidity. I will use each of these words in at least one example sentence. In addition, I will show you a useful memory tool that will help you remember whether to use ignorant or stupid in your own writing.
When to Use Ignorant
What does “ignorant” mean? The adjective ignorant describes a person who lacks knowledge or understanding of a subject. If you are ignorant of a subject, you have little or no knowledge of that subject.
- I didn’t know the law, but I was convicted anyway.
- I’m pretty ignorant about cars. I know very little.
- But people as a whole seem blissfully ignorant of these and other issues. -The Weekly Standard
Strictly speaking, ignorance, or being ignorant, is not an insult; it is simply a lack of understanding. Geniuses are ignorant of all sorts of things, but these people are not stupid; they are ignorant. This is an important distinction to make.
When to use Stupid
What does “stupid” mean? Stupid is another adjective; it means that one lacks mental capacity. An ignorant person can usually seek additional knowledge to become less ignorant, but, as the saying goes, you can’t fix stupid.
- Jimmy is too stupid to realize that the door opens inward and not outward.
- My dog Lucien is a stupid beast, but I still love her because she is so adorable.
- “Shut your big, stupid mouth and leave me alone!” the kid screamed at her brother.
- On Tuesday, Hawass backtracked on his comments, denying that he had insinuated that Messi was stupid and instead seemed to blame the performer who accompanied Messi on his tour. -The Washington Post
In common parlance, the term “stupid” is often used to refer to anything the speaker or writer doesn’t like very much, as in this sentence,
“The new MacBook Pros without legacy USB ports are so stupid,” Carlton said.
The lack of a USB port may not be stupid, strictly speaking, but many people use stupid in this way informally.
Tip for remembering the difference
Here’s a useful tip for remembering the difference between stupid and ignorant.
Neither of these words is a very nice thing to say to someone. However, if you must use them, remember to choose ignorant for someone who simply lacks knowledge. Stupid refers to a person who lacks brainpower.
To help you remember the difference between these words, and to introduce a note of positivity into a somewhat dull subject, remember that an ignorant person can strive to become informed, another word that begins with I. By combining these two adjectives in your mind, you can remember the correct usage of ignorant.
Summary
Ignorant or stupid? Ignorant and stupid are adjectives.
Ignorant means lacking knowledge.
Stupid means lacking intellectual abilities.
Both words can be derogatory if used with hostility. So be careful not to accidentally insult someone by using them.
Since an ignorant person can become informed if he or she is diligent and willing to learn, you can use the shared I between ignorant and informed to help you remember the meaning of ignorant.
In short, ignorant means uninformed, while stupid means lacking in intellectual capacity.
