Langimage
English

naively

|na/ive/ly|

B2

/naɪˈiːvli/

(naive)

innocent simplicity

Base FormComparativeSuperlative
naivenaivernaivest
Etymology
Etymology Information

'naive' originates from French, specifically the word 'naïf,' where 'naïve' meant 'natural, genuine.'

Historical Evolution

'naïf' transformed into the English word 'naive,' and eventually became the modern English word 'naive.'

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'natural or genuine,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'lacking experience or sophistication.'

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adverb 1

in a manner that shows a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment.

She naively believed that everyone she met was trustworthy.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45