die Unwissenheit
ignorance
The state in which someone lacks knowledge, expertise, or information about a particular matter.
EXAMPLE
Aus reiner Unwissenheit hat er einen schweren Fehler gemacht.
Out of sheer ignorance, he made a serious mistake.
die Unwissenheit
ignorance
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Meanings
Unwissenheit schützt vor Strafe nicht
ignorance is no excuse
A legal principle stating that someone is not exempt from the legal consequence of an action simply because they did not know the relevant law.
EXAMPLE
Auch wenn du das Tempolimit nicht kanntest, musst du das Bußgeld zahlen, denn Unwissenheit schützt vor Strafe nicht.
Even if you didn't know the speed limit, you have to pay the fine, because ignorance of the law is no excuse.
Usage tips
Word structure
The word is clearly structured: the prefix 'un-' negates the noun 'Wissen' (knowledge). The ending '-heit' turns it into an abstract noun that describes the state of not knowing.
EXAMPLE
Sein Handeln war nicht böswillig, sondern entsprang reiner Unwissenheit.
His behavior was not malicious, but came from sheer ignorance.
Use in the singular
'Unwissenheit' (ignorance) is an uncountable noun and is almost always used in the singular. It describes the general state or quality of not knowing something.
EXAMPLE
Unwissenheit ist oft die Wurzel von Vorurteilen.
Ignorance is often the root of prejudice.
Use with 'aus'
To indicate the reason for an action, the preposition 'aus' is used very frequently. The fixed phrase is 'aus Unwissenheit' (out of ignorance).
EXAMPLE
Er hat die giftigen Pilze aus Unwissenheit gegessen.
He ate the poisonous mushrooms out of ignorance.
Fixed expression
The sentence 'Unwissenheit schützt vor Strafe nicht' (ignorance of the law is no excuse) is a fixed legal principle and a well-known saying. It is always quoted in this form.
EXAMPLE
Du kannst nicht einfach im Halteverbot parken und sagen, du wusstest es nicht. Unwissenheit schützt vor Strafe nicht.
You can't just park in a no-parking zone and say you didn't know. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
Compare with
Unwissenheit vs Ignoranz
ignorance
Ignoranz and Unwissenheit can both be associated with a lack of knowledge. Unwissenheit neutrally means that someone does not know something. Ignoranz can also mean a lack of knowledge, but it can additionally imply criticism that someone is deliberately disregarding facts.
Unwissenheit
Paul beachtete die Warnungen aus Unwissenheit nicht, weil er sie nicht kannte.
Paul ignored the warnings out of ignorance because he did not know about them.
Ignoranz
Paul kannte die Warnungen, doch aus Ignoranz beachtete er sie nicht.
Paul knew about the warnings, but deliberately disregarded them.
In real life
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