guiltlessness

6.6

A state of not feeling that you have done something wrong

noun
/ˈɡɪltləsnəs/

: inocencia

The lawyer argued that his client's guiltlessness should be taken into account.
guiltlessness and innocence

Examples

A sense of calm or guiltlessness blows in.
The denunciation is all the more damaging because this smug guiltlessness and "Swiss innocence" are seen to be the opposite of genuine freedom and spiritual boldness.

Academic text (1993)
Her guiltlessness during the trial was evident, as she had nothing to hide.
Feeling a sense of guiltlessness, she returned the lost wallet to its owner.

Synonyms

innocence

vsguiltlessness

159 3.4

Not guilty of a crime

expresses a general state of moral freedom rather than legal verdict

inculpableness

vsguiltlessness

Formal

9.9

The state of being innocent and not to blame

focuses on moral freedom rather than just absence of blame

inculpability

vsguiltlessness

Formal

9.9

A state of not being blamed for doing something wrong

stresses moral freedom rather than only lacking blame

blamelessness

vsguiltlessness

6.9

A state of not having done anything wrong

means moral purity rather than only lack of blame

sinlessness

vsguiltlessness

9.6

Being free from wrong and having an innocent heart

focuses on secular freedom from moral fault rather than spiritual purity

Antonyms

guiltiness

1 4.9

A feeling that you did something wrong or illegal

How Guilty

guilt

375 2.4

guiltlessness

6.6

blamelessness

6.9

Surface Forms

guiltlessness singular

guiltlessnesses plural

Morphology

guiltlessness = guiltless (transparent) = guilt + less + ness

Formed by the adjective 'guiltless' plus the nominalizing suffix '-ness'; meaning 'the state of being free from guilt' follows standard derivational patterns.

Etymology

Guiltlessness comes from the simple parts guilt, meaning a 'wrong' or a kind of 'debt', and the ending -less, meaning 'without', so it literally says 'without guilt' and that is why it means being innocent.