simpleton

American  

[sim-puhl-tuhn] / ˈsɪm pəl tən /

noun

Sometimes Offensive.

1. an ignorant, foolish, or silly person.

   Synonyms:

   dope, ninny, blockhead, numbskull, fool, dolt

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simpleton British  

/ ˈsɪmpəltən /

noun

1. a foolish or ignorant person

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Etymology

Origin of simpleton

First recorded in 1640–50; simple + -ton

Explanation

A simpleton is an idiot — a person without much common sense or intelligence. This is one of many words — such as moron, dummy, and dimwit — that insult a person's intelligence. A simpleton is the opposite of a genius. However, the word simple implies more than lack of intelligence; it suggests being innocent or naive too. So a simpleton could be considered a hillbilly or yokel as well as a dullard or dunce.

Example Sentences

Boris’ political foe, the Boyar Prince Shuisky, was the powerful tenor Yevgeny Akimov, who has graduated from singing the Simpleton when Esa-Pekka Salonen conducted a concert performance of “Boris” at the Hollywood Bowl in 2007.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2018

Anthony made his Met debut as the Simpleton in Mussorsky's "Boris Godunov" on March 6, 1954, with George London in the title role.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2012

In a 1942 essay, “Anton Bruckner: Simpleton or Mystic?,” the British critic Geoffrey Sharp adopted Haas’s belief that Bruckner’s apparent personal naïveté was the key to understanding the textual situation.

From New York Times • Jul. 9, 2011

But giving the Simpleton a solo spot in the forest clearing, at the opera's end, is mere staginess.

From Time Magazine Archive

Simpleton did not reflect long, but went straight to the forest, and there in the self-same place sat a man tightening a strap round his body, and making a very miserable face.

From Snowdrop and Other Tales by Grimm, Jacob