faux-naïf

[ foh-nah-eef ]
/ ˈfoʊ nɑˈif /

adjective

marked by a pretense of simplicity or innocence; disingenuous.

noun

a person who shrewdly affects an attitude or pose of simplicity or innocence.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON THESE WORDS FROM BROWN GIRL DREAMING!

Visualize yourself passing this quiz on words from Jacqueline Woodson’s exquisite verse novel “Brown Girl Dreaming,” and then take the quiz to prove you can do it! (Because you can.)
Question 1 of 10
What does “barren” mean?
a cylindrical wooden container with slightly bulging sides.
Worn down by dullness, tedious repetition.
unproductive; unfruitful
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of faux-naïf

From French, dating back to 1940–45; see origin at faux, naive

Words nearby faux-naïf

faute de mieux, fauteuil, Fauve, faux, fauxbourdon, faux-naïf, faux pas, fava bean, fave, favela, favelado
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for faux-naïf

faux-naïf
/ French (fonaif) /

adjective

appearing or seeking to appear simple and unsophisticateda faux-naïf narration

noun

a person who pretends to be naïve

Word Origin for faux-naïf

French: false naïve
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012