Origin: Latin suffix -ence
Innocence has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
the quality of innocent naivete
"Her innocence was so profound that she asked where babies came from in front of strangers without a hint of embarrassment."
the state of being unsullied by sin or moral wrong; lacking a knowledge of evil
"The child's wide eyes reflected an innocence that left her unaware of any wrongdoing in the world."
a state or condition of being innocent of a specific crime or offense
"the trial established his innocence"
Absence of responsibility for a crime, tort, etc.
"The judge ruled that his innocence was not in question since he had no knowledge of the plot and played no part in planning it."
In plain English: Innocence means being free from guilt, crime, or moral wrongdoing.
"Her innocence was evident in her bright smile and wide eyes."
Usage: Use innocence to describe the state of being free from guilt or wrongdoing, but avoid confusing it with the adjective innocent, which modifies nouns directly. In legal contexts, ensure you distinguish between factual innocence (lack of involvement) and presumed innocence until proven guilty.
The word entered English through the Old French innocence and Latin innocentia, replacing an earlier native term meaning lack of guilt. It shares a common origin with its variant spelling, innocency.