ingénue

Or in·ge·nue

[an-zhuh-noo, -nyoo, an-zhey-ny]

noun

plural

ingénues 

1. an artless, innocent, unworldly girl or young woman.

   Navy and cocoa browns are good neutrals for the ingénue, and the right creamy beige or pearl gray are good choices for her more classic outfits.

2. the role of a young, innocent, and appealing character in a play, movie, TV show, etc., typically a female role.

3. an actress or actor who plays such a role or specializes in playing such roles.

4. a young actress or actor.

   At the awards event, natural diamonds were the gemstone of choice for both Hollywood ingenues and veterans alike.

5. a young, inexperienced person.

   The ailing leader Kim Jong Il sought to transfer power to his youngest son, a political ingenue in his 20s.

ingénue

/ ɛ̃ʒeny, ˌænʒeɪˈnjuː /

noun

1. an artless, innocent, or inexperienced girl or young woman

Word History and Origins

Origin of ingénue¹

First recorded in 1840–50; from French, feminine of ingénu, from Latin ingenuus “native, inborn”; ingenuous; ingenuity ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of ingénue¹

C19: from French, feminine of ingénu _ingenuous

Example Sentences

When I was younger, I got to play the ingenue, the object of desire.

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But her school had a traditionally beautiful ingenue who landed the leads.

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His nose twitches are as dramatic as an ingenue’s gasp.

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Pickett explains: "I wasn't really interested in her being an ingénue."

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All a male ingenue needed to do was smile and kiss the girl.

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Related Words

• babe 
• ingénue