faux-naïf

adjective

faux-na·​ïf ˌfō-nä-ˈēf How to pronounce faux-naïf (audio)
variants or faux-naif
: spuriously or affectedly childlike : artfully simple
faux-naïf prose

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, falsely naive

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of faux-naïf was in 1941

Browse Nearby Words

faux jour
faux-naïf
faux pas
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Faux-naïf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/faux-na%C3%AFf. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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