naiveté

Also na·ive·ty,
Or na·ïve·té,

[nah-eev-tey, -ee-vuh-tey, -eev-tey, -ee-vuh-]

noun

1. the quality or state of being naive; natural or artless simplicity.

2. a naive action, remark, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of naiveté¹

First recorded in 1665–75; from French; naive, -ity ( def. )

Example Sentences

Indeed, a certain amount of failure is written into the character, with his mix of optimistic naivete and self-puncturing pride, a combination LeBlanc is skilled at bringing to life.

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The case against her was threadbare, a product of postwar rancor, false testimony and manipulative journalists who had preyed on her naivete.

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The premise of these is that the war was misguided and fruitless, a product of post-9/11 irrationalism and naiveté about the Middle East.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In his hands, the naiveté of a given era’s technology becomes poignant.

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The idea that they should apply broadly to other people is ridiculous, and implies, I think, a level of naivete and that people don’t know what they’re talking about.

Read more on Slate