ingenuous

Borrowed from Latin ingenuus (“of noble character, frank”).

• (US) IPA^(key): /ɪnˈdʒɛn.ju.əs/

ingenuous (comparative more ingenuous, superlative most ingenuous)

1. Naive and trusting.
2. Demonstrating childlike simplicity.
   • 1919, W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, ch. 12

     "Do you mean to say you didn't leave your wife for another woman?"

     "Of course not."

     "On your word of honour?"

     I don't know why I asked for that. It was very ingenuous of me.

3. Unsophisticated; simple.
4. Unable to mask one's feelings.
5. Straightforward, candid, open, and frank.

Do not confuse with ingenious.

• See also Thesaurus:naive

• disingenuous

• unigenous