naive
or na·ïve
[ nah-eev ]
/ nɑˈiv /
Save This Word!
adjective
having or showing unaffected simplicity of nature or absence of artificiality; unsophisticated; ingenuous.
having or showing a lack of experience, judgment, or information; credulous: She's so naive she believes everything she reads. He has a very naive attitude toward politics.
having or marked by a simple, unaffectedly direct style reflecting little or no formal training or technique: valuable naive 19th-century American portrait paintings.
not having previously been the subject of a scientific experiment, as an animal.
SYNONYMS FOR naive
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!
Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!
Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Origin of naive
OTHER WORDS FROM naive
na·ive·ly, adverbna·ive·ness, nounun·na·ive, adjectiveun·na·ive·ly, adverbWords nearby naive
nairu, Naismith, Naismith's rule, naissance, naissant, naive, naive realism, naiveté, naivety, Najaf, Nakasone
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for naive
“Have” vs. “Has”: When To Use Each One
“Affect” vs. “Effect”: Use The Correct Word Every Time
What Is An Em Dash And How Do You Use It?
Why Do “Left” And “Right” Mean Liberal And Conservative?
Systematic vs. Systemic: There’s A System To The Difference
Read Poetry Like An Expert With These Advanced Poetic Terms
British Dictionary definitions for naive
naive
nave naf
/ (naɪˈiːv) /
adjective
- having or expressing innocence and credulity; ingenuous
- (as collective noun; preceded by the)only the naive believed him
artless or unsophisticated
lacking developed powers of analysis, reasoning, or criticisma naive argument
another word for primitive (def. 5)
noun
Derived forms of naive
naively, navely or nafly, adverbnaiveness, naveness or nafness, nounWord Origin for naive
C17: from French, feminine of naïf, from Old French naif native, spontaneous, from Latin nātīvus native, from nasci to be born
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
Medical definitions for naive
naive
adj.
Lacking worldliness and sophistication.
Simple and credulous as a child.
Not previously subjected to experiments.
Not having previously taken or received a particular drug.
n.
One who is artless, credulous, or uncritical.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.