ignorant; unenlightened; uncivilized
Describes a state of lacking knowledge, culture, or enlightenment; often used in formal or literary contexts to criticize backwardness or ignorance.
I was appalled by his ignorant attitude.
Superstitions thrive in an unenlightened society.
unenlightened; ignorant; uneducated
obscurantism
Standard kanji spelling for this word.
The word is composed of 蒙 (もう, 'darkness, ignorance') and 昧 (まい, 'dark, foolish'), both carrying the sense of obscurity or lack of clarity. The combination reinforces the idea of being in the dark mentally or culturally.