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| na·ive [ naa v ] (comparative na·iv·er, superlative na·iv·est) or na·ïve [ naa v ] (comparative na·ïv·er, superlative na·ïv·est) or na·ïf [ naa f ] (comparative na·ïf·er, superlative na·ïf·est) |
adjective |
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| Definition: |
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1. extremely simple and trusting: having or showing an excessively simple and trusting view of the world and human nature, often as a result of youth and inexperience
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2. not shrewd or sophisticated: showing a lack of sophistication and subtlety or of critical judgment and analysis
  a politically naive statement
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3. artless: admirably straightforward and uncomplicated or refreshingly innocent and unaffected
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4. arts rejecting sophisticated techniques in art: not using the conventional styles and techniques of trained artists, e.g. in the treatment of perspective or light and shade
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5. science not previously experimented on: not previously used in any scientific tests or experiments or not having previously used a particular drug
naive laboratory mice
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| [Mid-17th century. < French naïve, feminine of naïf< Latin nativus "born"] |
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| na·ive·ly adverb |
| na·ive·ness noun |
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