naivete

noun

na·​ive·​te nä-ˌēv-ˈtā 

-ˌē-və-;

nä-ˈēv-ˌtā,

-ˈē-və-;

nī-

variants or naïveté or less commonly naiveté

1

: a naive remark or action

The farce is noted for its ridiculous acts and naïvetés.

2

: the quality or state of being naive

His account sometimes displays a gee-whiz naiveté …

—Gregory McNamee

Synonyms

• artlessness
• greenness
• guilelessness
• ingenuousness
• innocence
• naiveness
• naivety [chiefly British]
• naïvety
• naturalness
• simplemindedness
• simpleness
• simplicity
• unsophistication
• unworldliness
• viridity

Examples of naivete in a Sentence

her naïveté led her to leave her new car unlocked while she shopped at the mall

though he was streetwise, the investigative reporter regularly assumed an air of naïveté when he was interviewing confidence men, charlatans, counterfeiters, and other assorted swindlers of the general public

Recent Examples on the Web

The secret is that Spike’s know-nothing naivete encourages us to see the world through the eyes of someone who’s new to every part of it. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 18 June 2025

Is there intimidation, naivete, fear of being alone? —Ew Staff, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025

On the contrary, the narrative voice mixes naivete and disbelief. —Bartolomeo Sala, The Dial, 27 Mar. 2025

One character starts with hope and naivete, and the other with the wisdom that comes from tough, life-altering experiences. —Nick Jonas, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French naïveté, from Old French, inborn character, from naif

First Known Use

1673, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for naivete

• aaa
• adonais
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway

Kids Definition

naïvete

noun

na·​ïve·​te

variants also naivete

(ˌ)nä-ˌēv(-ə)-ˈtā,

nä-ˈēv(-ə)-tā

1

: the quality or state of being naive

2

: a naive remark or action