naivety

noun

na·​ive·​ty nä-ˈē-və-tē 

-ˈēv-tē, 

nī-

variants or less commonly naïvety

plural naiveties also naïveties

chiefly British

: naïveté

If he compromised himself, then it was because of his political ignorance and naivety.

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

Synonyms of naivety

• innocence
• naturalness
• simplicity
• naïveté
• sincerity
• ignorance

Examples of naivety in a Sentence

the contention that the royal family took advantage of the young Diana's naivety

Recent Examples on the Web

Now Carrie enters public school for the very first time, and with the reemergence of formidable telekinetic abilities, her blissful naivety of girlhood and her wide-open heart make her easy prey for physical and online bullies. — Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026

Nearly a decade after Hutchins’s death, Cole revisits nine formative years marked by naivety, discovery, confusion, and evolution. — Tina Eves, SPIN, 9 Sep. 2026

The age of the activists has drawn comments, even from government officials, that youth equates to naivety and ignorance. — ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026

In 2009, five members of Young The Giant named their band in honor of their own youth, naivety and potential overconfidence. — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined above