simple sentence

American  

noun

simple sentences plural

1. a sentence having only one clause, as I saw her the day before yesterday.

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simple sentence British  

noun

1. a sentence consisting of a single main clause Compare compound sentence complex sentence

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simple sentence Cultural  

1. A sentence containing only one independent clause and no dependent clauses: “He went home after class.” (Compare complex sentence, compound sentence, and compound-complex sentence.)

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• simple sentences
  plural

Compare meaning

How does simple-sentence compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• simple sentence vs. compound sentence

Example Sentences

Donovan notes that Sarah suggesting Abraham lie with Hagar in Genesis 16 initially comes across as a straightforward and simple sentence.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

And he sums himself up with one simple sentence.

From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025

Each word felt heavy on my tongue as I labored through the simple sentence, stunned by the glow that surrounded her.

From Salon • Nov. 12, 2023

“It was a very simple sentence, but it profoundly effected everything I’ve done.”

From Washington Post • Jan. 6, 2022

If you find it a breeze to write a simple sentence, but start hyperventilating when a few bells and whistles are added, you’re not alone.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner