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

She paints a thick inky black-on-white, in a faux-naïf pastiche of East and West.

From New York Times • Oct. 21, 2021

Her faux-naïf style and lumpy private iconography are the very opposite of suave.

From Washington Post • Feb. 14, 2019

But its structure is too straggly to suit a piece of such stylistic limitation, and the charm borders on faux-naïf cuteness.

From New York Times • Apr. 23, 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