The word "naive" is derived from the French "naif," principally meaning someone who is closed minded. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the English use of naive dates back to the 1600s, when it was used in literature and diaries. In modern English, the term naive has a variety of different meanings depending on context.

History

The adjective naive was first used in Middle French, a division of the French language used from roughly years 1340 to 1611. Naive is the feminine version of the French naif. In the English language, the term naive was first cited as used in Sir James Melville's diary, originally written in 1614.

Definitions

Naive can have several different meanings depending on its context. These are: 1. Natural and unaffected, primitive 2. Showing a lack of experience or judgment (most popular definition in Modern English) 3. In art, a painting produced in a bold, straightforward style

Synonyms & Antonyms

Some words that are synonyms of naive include candid, gullible, harmless, ignorant, impulsive, ingenuous, innocent, innocuous, instinctive, jejune, natural, open, original, simple, simple-minded, unpretentious, unschooled, unsophisticated, unsuspecting, unsuspicious, untaught, unworldly and virgin. Words that can be considered antonyms of naive are experienced, leery, skeptical, wise, artful, complicated, contrived, pretentious and sophisticated.

Examples

"Young children are naive to the outside world." "She is too naive to fully understand the nature of the crime." "The lack of formal techniques in his paintings prove that he is a naive artist."

Related Words

Other forms of naive: naivete, naiveness, naively

Source:

WordNet

Oxford English Dictionary

Naive (comparative more naive, superlative most naive) Lacking experience, wisdom, or judgement. * Surely you're not naive enough to believe adverts! (of art) Produced in a simple, childlike style, deliberately rejecting sophisticated techniques. * I've always liked the naive way in which he ignores all the background detail. 1.Lacking worldly experience and understanding, especially: a.Simple and guileless; artless: A child with a naive charm. b.Unsuspecting or credulous: "Students, often bright but naive, bet- and lose-substantial sums of money on sporting events" (Tim Layden). 2.Showing or characterized by a lack of sophistication and critical judgment: "this extravagance of metaphors, with its naive bombast" (H.L. Mencken).