“Innocence” or “Innocents”—Which to use?

“Innocence” or “Innocents”

Overview

innocence / innocents are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

innocence: (noun) a state or condition of being innocent of a specific crime or offense.

innocents: (noun) a person who lacks knowledge of evil.

Pronunciation

innocence: IH·n·ah·s·ah·n·s

innocents: IH·n·ah·s·ah·n·t·s

Trends

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Examples in Context

Examples of “innocence”

Imprisonment and Innocence
…Margolyes in The Age of Innocence
…recognized in him an enduring innocence, so that he was "not…
…Ryder in The Age of Innocence
Ceremony of Innocence (1969)
…arguing that the loss of innocence is inevitable and is merely…
…- Andrew McAlpineThe Age of Innocence - Dante FerrettiDracula - Thomas…
The Age of Innocence won one award: Best Supporting…
Her innocence and beauty attracts hatred and…
Elizabeth Device vehemently maintained her innocence.

Examples of “innocents”

Innocents (2000) as Judge Winston
Holy Innocents Church (Chicago)
…that targeted the lives of innocents."
Holy Innocents remained an ethnic Polish parish…
…the Church of the Holy Innocents to be built.
Holy Innocents Church, (), is a church…
PGSA - Holy Innocents Church History
…who plot the downfall of innocents.
…a second, the Fontaine des Innocents was built in the 13th
Requiem des innocents, 1952, publisher: Collection Folio (No…

(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)

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