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noun C1 Advanced

naivety

nah-EEV-tee

Naivety (noun) means the quality of being naive; a lack of experience or worldly judgement. Example: “His naivety about office politics kept getting him into trouble.”

noun
1
The quality of being naive; a lack of experience or worldly judgement.
"His naivety about office politics kept getting him into trouble."
"There is a certain charm in the naivety of a child's drawing."

How to use naivety

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe state of being naive — innocent or inexperienced in a way that can be endearing or a liability.

UK vs US

Naivety is the more common spelling in British English; naïveté (borrowed directly from French) is more common in American English.

Easily confused with
naivete

Word forms

naiveties plural

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His _____ about office politics kept getting him into trouble.

Etymology

Formed from naive plus the suffix -ity; parallels the French naïveté.

Origin: French

naivete naiveness

Related words

Rhymes for naivety

See all rhymes for naivety →

Frequently asked questions

What does “naivety” mean?

The word “naivety” means the quality of being naive; a lack of experience or worldly judgement. In plain terms, the state of being naive — innocent or inexperienced in a way that can be endearing or a liability.

How do you pronounce “naivety”?

“Naivety” is pronounced nah-EEV-tee (/nɑːˈiːvti/ in IPA).

How do you use “naivety” in a sentence?

Here is “naivety” used in a sentence: “His naivety about office politics kept getting him into trouble.”

What part of speech is “naivety”?

“Naivety” is a noun.

Where does the word “naivety” come from?

The word “naivety” comes from French. Formed from naive plus the suffix -ity; parallels the French naïveté.

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