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Synonyms

unsophisticated

American  
[uhn-suh-fis-ti-kay-tid] / ˌʌn səˈfɪs tɪˌkeɪ tɪd /

adjective

  1. not sophisticated; simple; artless.

    Synonyms:
    inexperienced, naive, ingenuous
  2. without complexity or refinements.

    a relatively unsophisticated mechanism.

  3. unadulterated; pure; genuine.


unsophisticated British  
/ ˌʌnsəˈfɪstɪˌkeɪtɪd /

adjective

  1. lacking experience or worldly wisdom

  2. marked by a lack of refinement or complexity

    an unsophisticated machine

  3. unadulterated or genuine

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of unsophisticated

First recorded in 1620–30; un- 1 + sophisticated


Vocabulary lists containing unsophisticated

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:

But despite the typos and inconsistencies in the emails, I understood how such an unsophisticated scam might actually be effective if the mark was sufficiently confused—or frightened.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

He added that “unfortunately, many unsophisticated investors will be left holding the bag in the end.”

From MarketWatch ● May 13, 2026

The song's music video proved too much for a group of "concerned" public figures in Cyprus, who called it "unsophisticated" and "insulting to Cypriot history, traditions and aesthetics".

From BBC ● May 8, 2026

Everything fell: oil prices, the dollar, even gold, because investors were shocked by how unsophisticated and draconian the policy was.

From Salon ● Apr. 5, 2026

I was unsophisticated and tried to use nosiness only when it counted the most.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

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