Ingenuous
/ɪnˈɡɛnjuəs/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Ingenuous describes a person or behavior that is very honest and innocent. Someone ingenuous does not try to trick others or hide their true feelings. They often show a natural kindness and openness without suspicion.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
Honest and open in a simple, natural way
- •She gave an ingenuous smile that showed she trusted everyone.
- •His ingenuous questions showed he had no idea about the problem.
- •The child's ingenuous nature made adults want to protect her.
Showing innocence and lack of deceit (not trying to trick)
- •The ingenuous explanation made everyone believe his story.
- •They appreciated her ingenuous attitude during the meeting.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "ingenuous" like "honest" (A2 word), but with a gentle, innocent feeling—like a child who trusts everyone easily
- ✓Picture a person smiling with wide eyes, sharing their true thoughts without fear or doubt
- ✓It's the feeling you have when you meet someone who seems very kind and open, without any hidden plans
- ✓Sounds like "in-JEN-yoo-us" → Imagine a friendly genie (magic helper) who always tells the truth and helps openly
- ✓Remember characters in stories who are pure and trust others, like a young hero who believes in good people
- ✓NOT like "ingenious" (which means very clever)—"ingenuous" is about innocence, not cleverness
- ✓NOT like "dishonest" (hides truth)—ingenuous is open and truthful by nature
- ✓NOT like "naive" (which can mean too trusting and sometimes foolish)—ingenuous has a positive, honest tone
Try Other Words
- •Naive: innocent and trusting, sometimes too much (Use when the innocence might cause mistakes)
- •Sincere: truly meaning what you say (Use when focusing on genuine feelings without deceit)
- •Open: willing to share thoughts and feelings (Use when emphasizing sharing without hiding)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "in-" (not or in), root "genu-" (from Latin "genuinus" meaning natural, genuine), suffix "-ous" (adjective form)
- •Etymology: From Latin "ingenuus" meaning free-born, noble, honest, or natural
- •Historical development: Originally meant noble or honest by birth, over time it came to mean innocent and open in behavior
- •Modern usage: Used to describe people or actions that are honest, innocent, and straightforward without hidden motives
Reflect & Connect
•Can someone be ingenuous in a world where people often hide their feelings? How does this affect relationships?
•How is being ingenuous different from being naive? Can ingenuousness sometimes cause problems?
Fill in the blanks
1.Her ingenuous smile showed she ___ no fear or doubt about the situation.
2.People often trust someone who is ingenuous because they ___ any hidden plans.
3.Unlike a clever person, an ingenuous person is honest and ___.
4.When he asked ingenuous questions, it was clear he ___ all the facts.
5.She was not naive but ingenuous, meaning she was honest without being ___.
6.The child’s ingenuous nature made adults want to ___ and protect her.
7.Someone ingenuous usually speaks ___ and openly without hiding feelings.