Naive

Naive

Adjective · /naɪˈiːv/

Definition

Showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgement; innocent and unsophisticated; too trusting; (in art) deliberately simple and unelaborated in style, as if by an untrained artist.

Origin

From French naïve, feminine of naïf, from Latin nativus (native, natural, innate — from birth), from nasci (to be born). The word originally meaning natural, unaffected, or genuine — the quality of behaving naturally without artifice or sophistication. Entering English in the 17th century from French. The French naïf/naïve retaining the acute accent even in English usage. The meaning developing from the originally neutral (natural, genuine) toward the more negative (too trusting, lacking experience) as sophistication became increasingly valued.