naive Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective marked by or showing unaffected simplicity and lack of guile or worldly experience
    naif.
    • a teenager's naive ignorance of life
    • the naive assumption that things can only get better
    • this naive simple creature with wide friendly eyes so eager to believe appearances
  2. adjective satellite of or created by one without formal training; simple or naive in style
    primitive.
    • primitive art such as that by Grandma Moses is often colorful and striking
  3. adjective satellite inexperienced
  4. adjective satellite lacking information or instruction
    unenlightened; uninstructed.
    • lamentably unenlightened as to the laws
  5. adjective satellite not initiated; deficient in relevant experience
    uninitiated; uninitiate.
    • it seemed a bizarre ceremony to uninitiated western eyes
    • he took part in the experiment as a naive subject

WordNet

Na"ïve` adjective (Also<
  • Naive
  • Naïve
)
Etymology
F. naïf, fem. naïve, fr. L. nativus innate, natural, native. See Native, and cf. Naïf.
Definitions
  1. Having native or unaffected simplicity; ingenuous; artless; frank; as, naïve manners; a naïve person; naïve and unsophisticated remarks.

Webster 1913