naivete
UK: naɪˈiːvəteɪ | US: naɪˈiːvəteɪ
n. the quality of being naive; innocence or lack of worldly experience
n. a naive action or statement
naivete = naiv<naive> + ete<noun suffix>
- naiv<naive>: From French naïf (feminine naïve), meaning "natural, innocent, unspoiled." Derived from Latin nativus ("native, innate").
- ete<noun suffix>: A French suffix used to form abstract nouns indicating a state or quality (e.g., discret → discretion).
Etymology Origin:
The word naivete entered English in the 17th century from French, retaining its spelling and meaning. It stems from the Latin nativus, which originally referred to something innate or natural. Over time, naïf in French came to describe someone untainted by sophistication, and the suffix -ete formalized it as an abstract noun. The English adoption preserved this sense of artless simplicity, often with a connotation of gullibility.
Her naivete made her trust strangers too easily.
The politician’s naivete was evident in his unrealistic promises.
Despite his naivete, he approached life with genuine optimism.
The novel explores the loss of childhood naivete.
Critics dismissed his theory as charming but rooted in naivete.