simplicity
Americannoun
plural
simplicities-
the state, quality, or an instance of being simple.
-
freedom from complexity, intricacy, or division into parts.
an organism of great simplicity.
-
absence of luxury, pretentiousness, ornament, etc.; plainness.
a life of simplicity.
-
freedom from deceit or guile; sincerity; artlessness; naturalness.
a simplicity of manner.
- Synonyms:
- honesty, directness, candor
-
lack of mental acuteness or shrewdness.
Politics is not a field for simplicity about human nature.
noun
Other Word Forms
- nonsimplicity noun
- oversimplicity noun
- supersimplicity noun
Etymology
Origin of simplicity
1325–75; Middle English simplicite (< Old French simplicité ) < Latin simplicitās simpleness, equivalent to simplici- (stem of simplex ) simplex + -tās -ty 2
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.
“Companies are clearly prioritizing focus, scale and simplicity as they respond to shifting consumption patterns, trade pressures and slower demand,” said Ed Brown, chair of Burr and Forman’s Food and Beverage practice.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
Surfshark may appeal to users who prioritize speed and simplicity.
From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026
Great ideas dazzle once and only once—the first time you experience them—and McDonald’s great idea, brilliant in its simplicity, was rock-bottom prices and the assembly-line efficiency that offered exactly nine items, six of them drink.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
The simplicity of the idea relieved millions of seniors of the anxiety of having to pay out of pocket for catastrophic illnesses that had the potential to drain their retirement savings.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 10, 2026
But such simplicity is a difficult thing to achieve, because to be clear in your writing you have to be clear in your thinking.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
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.
