simplicity
Americannoun
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simplicities
plural
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the state, quality, or an instance of being simple.
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freedom from complexity, intricacy, or division into parts.
an organism of great simplicity.
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absence of luxury, pretentiousness, ornament, etc.; plainness.
a life of simplicity.
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freedom from deceit or guile; sincerity; artlessness; naturalness.
a simplicity of manner.
- Synonyms:
- honesty, directness, candor
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lack of mental acuteness or shrewdness.
Politics is not a field for simplicity about human nature.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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
Explanation
Simplicity is a noun that means "the quality of being plain." The simplicity of your prom dress made you stand out in the sea of ruffles and sequins. Simplicity describes a lack of ornamentation, like a Christmas tree that is only decorated with white lights instead of being fancied up with lots of ornaments, tinsel and multi-colored bulbs. The noun simplicity also means "freedom from hardship or effort" like the simplicity of hanging out on your porch. Simplicity also describes something easy to accomplish or understand.
Vocabulary lists containing simplicity
'Tis A Gift To Be Simple: Words For National Simplicity Day
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"On Turning Ten" by Billy Collins
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poems about transcendental thinking
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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.
See Examples For:
A big secret of the ambitious McCreary’s success harks back to lessons of simplicity that Bernstein taught him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
“The recipient may be wealthier, but may also face substantially higher taxes, Medicare costs and administrative responsibilities at a stage of life when simplicity matters most.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026
Part of this atlas's appeal lies in its simplicity.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
For years, Netflix’s co-founder Reed Hastings preached the importance of focus and simplicity to succeed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
In the beginning, Inigo had all kinds of wild vengeance notions, but gradually, simplicity had seemed the better way.
From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman
Carson Palmer had gotten used to the simplicities of football being done for him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2025
Lyrical simplicities aside, her songs are weird, distinctive, beautiful, ranging, and complicated.
From Slate ● Sep. 4, 2021
The strange simplicities of the Cold War - the two sides knew each other for what they were - have given way to a more puzzling mix of loyalties.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2019
You do some violence to private emotion and private thought when you reduce it to simplicities of public conversation.
From Washington Post ● May 1, 2015
When home from the hotel circuit, Howard’s longings were for the simplicities of small-town life: spending time with family and friends and working in the family’s poolroom.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
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.
