naivety

noun

na·​ive·​ty nä-ˈē-və-tē How to pronounce naivety (audio)
-ˈēv-tē,
nī-
variants or less commonly naïvety
plural naiveties
chiefly British
: naïveté
If he compromised himself, then it was because of his political ignorance and naivety.The Times Literary Supplement (London)

Examples of naivety in a Sentence

the contention that the royal family took advantage of the young Diana's naivety
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Unlike many child actors, Wright isn’t precocious so much as devastatingly genuine in her peculiar blend of wisdom and naivety. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 5 Feb. 2025 The show navigated the stars' early domestic lives, with Simpson's apparent naivety endearing her to viewers. John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025 Confronted with Prussia’s world-class public educational system and effective tariffs, the British elite fretted about the naivety of free trade and the quality of their country’s breeding stock. John Micklethwait, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2014 Sometimes, these declarations are the product of naivety; other times, it’s done for clicks. Henry McIntosh, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for naivety 

Word History

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of naivety was in 1708

Dictionary Entries Near naivety

Cite this Entry

“Naivety.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naivety. Accessed 18 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on naivety

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!