unpretentious

[uhn-pri-ten-shuhs]

adjective

1. not pretentious; modest; without ostentatious display; plain.

   his unpretentious demeanor; an unpretentious summer resort.

   Synonyms: easy, open, plain, humble

unpretentious

/ ˌʌnprɪˈtɛnʃəs /

adjective

1. not making claim to distinction or importance undeservedly

Other Word Forms

• unpretentiously adverb
• unpretentiousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unpretentious¹

First recorded in 1855–60; un- ¹ + pretentious

Example Sentences

Its house and formal garden may appear rather grand, but I found Claude unpretentious and warm.

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Redford runs around downtown New York in a blazer and jeans and you see a glimpse of the whole of unpretentious action stardom that followed.

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He is unpretentious in his experiments and unafraid to get playful.

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The tone, like the photo, is unpretentious and playful, heavy on character and story, not theory.

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But either way, she quickly responds to the flattery with a return compliment, an unpretentious, “Thanks, I made it,” and moves the conversation forward.

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Related Words

• folksy 
• homey 
• humble 
• laid-back 
• modest 
• simple 
• straightforward 
• unassuming