naiveté
Americannoun
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the quality or state of being naive; natural or artless simplicity.
-
a naive action, remark, etc.
Etymology
Origin of naiveté
First recorded in 1665–75; from French; see naive, -ity ( def. )
Explanation
If you suggest that world peace could be achieved by handing out cookies in warring nations, you would be revealing a certain amount of naivete. This is a lack of wisdom and sophistication. Naivete has four syllables and is pronounced nigh-eve-i-TAY. The root naïve is a French adjective meaning “natural, just born.” Because it suggests innocence or ignorance, naivete is often associated with children, who lack experience and knowledge. But plenty of adults, too, display a certain amount of naivete when they make assumptions based on ignorance, an inability to grasp a situation, or a tendency to oversimplify complex things.
Vocabulary lists containing naivete
Into the Wild
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "N"
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The Wishing Spell
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bailey has a wide-eyed clueless cuteness that lends to her character’s well-meaning naiveté — even her missteps have a way of working out.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
“The regime’s naiveté was to believe missile programs could make up for the lack of a capable air force,” said Saeid Golkar, an Iran expert at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026
But Dougal’s naiveté does not preclude a sly sense of humor.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025
Call it naiveté or just plain stupidity, but I showed up to my first day of class overconfident.
From Salon • May 25, 2025
“They probably were. Our childish naiveté saved us.”
From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
