faux-naïf

American  

[foh-nah-eef] / ˈfoʊ nɑˈif /

adjective

1. marked by a pretense of simplicity or innocence; disingenuous.

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noun

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

faux-naïf British  

/ fonaif /

adjective

1. appearing or seeking to appear simple and unsophisticated

   a faux-naïf narration

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noun

1. a person who pretends to be naïve

Etymology

Origin of faux-naïf

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

Example Sentences

The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, N.H., had one of her utterly original, droll, faux-naïf sculptural ensembles.

From Washington Post • Apr. 10, 2018

Todd Bienvenu paints both oil and acrylic in a faux-naïf style of broad approximate strokes, bright high-contrast colors and heavy impasto.

From New York Times • Apr. 13, 2017

Logan Vaughn’s direction is overactive and the character’s faux-naïf posture and formal diction are sometimes exasperating.

From New York Times • Aug. 2, 2015

Andrea Heimer’s acrylic/pencil works on wood panel push a similar faux-naïf sensibility in a different thematic direction, with scenes of Sweet 16 parties and other innocent activities taking a chaotic or surreal turn.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 19, 2013

Unusual, affecting, narrated in a deceptive faux-naïf style, this book won Williams the National Book Tokens Not Yet Published prize.

From The Guardian • Mar. 27, 2010