innocente

innocent

adjective een-noh-CHEN-teh Less Common

Origin: Latin innocens (not harming)

Also means

naive

Usage Note

Innocente functions as both adjective and noun: l'innocente means 'the innocent person.' In legal language it is the antonym of colpevole (guilty). It also describes a person who is naive or guileless — 'è ancora innocente' can mean a child is still innocent of the world's harshness. The capitalized Innocente is a papal title (e.g. Pope Innocent). The noun form is innocenza.

Examples

"Il tribunale ha dichiarato l'imputato innocente."

Natural Translation

The court declared the defendant innocent.

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