Naivete meaning

nīēv-tā, nä-, nī-ēvĭ-tā, nä-
Naivete is a lack of knowledge or sophistication.

An example of a person's naivete is when she falls for an obvious trick or prank.

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The state or quality of being inexperienced or unsophisticated, especially in being artless, credulous, or uncritical.
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An artless, credulous, or uncritical statement or act.
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The quality or state of being naive; simplicity; artlessness.
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Alternative spelling of naïveté.
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A naive action or remark.
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Origin of naivete

  • French naïveté from Old French naivete native disposition from naif artless naive

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Naivete Sentence Examples

  • But the latter's good-natured naivete was so boundless that sometimes even he involuntarily yielded to Nicholas' good humor.

  • The obvious sincerity which underlies this statement, combined with a certain lack of humour which peers through its naivete, points to two of the principal characteristics of Patmore's earlier poetry; characteristics which came to be almost unconsciously merged and harmonized as his style and his intention drew together into unity.

  • It revived in the charming naivete of Cowper's lyrical letters in octosyllabics to his friends, such as William Bull and Lady Austin (1782).

  • But all he said was so prettily sedate, and the naivete of his youthful egotism was so obvious, that he disarmed his hearers.

  • This naivete may be one of the reasons why many unsuitable dogs are living in neighborhoods with children or other dogs and have been involved in attacks.

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Words near naivete in the Dictionary