plain

³plain

adj

Definition of PLAIN

1

archaic : even, level

2

: lacking ornament : undecorated

3

: free of extraneous matter : pure

4

: free of impediments to view : unobstructed

5

a (1) : evident to the mind or senses : obvious <it's perfectly plain that they will resist> (2) : clear <let me make my meaning plain> b : marked by outspoken candor : free from duplicity or subtlety : blunt <plain talk>

6

a : belonging to the masses : common b : lacking special distinction or affectation : ordinary

7

: characterized by simplicity : not complicated <plain home-cooked meals>

8

: lacking beauty or ugliness

— plain·ly adverb

— plain·ness \ˈplān-nəs\ noun

Examples of PLAIN

1. It was a plain room with no curtains.
2. She was wearing plain black shoes.
3. He printed the picture on plain paper.
4. a piece of plain chicken
5. You don't have to call me Mr. Johnson—just plain Fred will be fine.
6. What he said is a lie, plain and simple.

First Known Use of PLAIN

14th century

Related to PLAIN

Synonyms: bald, bare, naked, plain-vanilla, simple, unadorned, undecorated, unembellished, unornamented, unvarnished

Antonyms: adorned, decorated, embellished, fancy, ornamented

Related Words: denuded, divested, stripped; au naturel, earthy, elemental, homely, natural, unsophisticated; forthright, honest, modest, unpretentious; clean; antiseptic, austere, bleak, severe, spartan, stark; minimalist; inconspicuous, muted, restrained, sober, subdued, toned (down), unobtrusive; conservative, quiet, understated

Near Antonyms: flamboyant, flashy, garish, gaudy, glittery, glitzy, loud, ostentatious, showy, splashy, swank (or swanky), tawdry; bedizened, florid, lurid, ornate; exaggerated, overdecorated, overdone, overwrought; baroque, elaborate, extravagant, ornate, rococo; appareled (or apparelled), arrayed, bedecked, decked-out, dressed, embroidered, garnished, trimmed

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at common, evident, frank