Distinguishing Between Ignorant and Stupid: A Simple Guide to Understanding and Usage

Understanding the Difference: Ignorant vs. Stupid

Sometimes, people use the words ignorant and stupid like they mean the same thing. But they are not the same! Let’s learn the difference.

History of the Words

The word ignorant comes from the Latin word “ignorare,” which means “not to know.” It has been used for many years to talk about not knowing something.

The word stupid comes from the Latin word “stupere,” which means “to be stunned” or “to be amazed.” It became a word to describe someone doing something that does not seem smart.

How to Use the Words

Ignorant

When you call someone ignorant, it means they do not know something. It is not really their fault; they just have not learned about it yet.

• She was ignorant of the new rules at school.
• He is ignorant about how to cook pasta.
• They were ignorant of the noise they were making.
• He felt ignorant about the history lesson.
• We were ignorant of the danger ahead.

Stupid

When you call someone stupid, it is a bit more harsh. It means they made a bad choice, even though they might know better.

• It was stupid of him to run in the rain without an umbrella.
• She made a stupid mistake on her test because she didn’t read the instructions.
• They thought it was stupid to stay up all night before the big game.
• He was being stupid when he tried to fix the TV by himself.
• It was stupid to leave the door unlocked.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Think of ignorant as “I don’t know.” It’s like not having the right book to study. Think of stupid as “I should have known better.” It’s like having the book but not using it!

Summary

Ignorant means you don’t have the knowledge yet. Stupid means you made a bad choice, even when you know things. Being ignorant is about not learning yet, while being stupid is about not using what you know.