ingenue
Other forms: ingenues
What do Ophelia, Snow White, and Sandy from the movie "Grease" all have in common? You could call each one an ingénue, or a young female character in literature or film who is wholesome and innocent.
Ingénue comes from the French ingénu meaning "ingenuous, innocent." The term is used to describe the innocent girl stock character in film or literature. She's usually gentle, sweet, virginal, and pretty naive — which makes her susceptible to the harsh dangers of the world. Ingénue can also be used to describe an actress who specializes in playing this kind of character specifically.
-
an artless innocent young girl (especially as portrayed on the stage)
-
the role of an innocent artless young woman in a playtype of:character, part, persona, role, theatrical rolean actor's portrayal of someone in a play, film, etc...
-
an actress who specializes in playing the role of an artless innocent young girl
- MLA
- APA
- Chicago
Vocabulary lists containing ingenue
Words from Round 2 of the 2014 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
The Academy Awards are a spectacle of fashion, fame and — oh yeah — movies! Whether you’re writing a screenplay or a ransom note, your vocabulary can be blockbuster stuff. Here’s a list of terms you’re most likely to hear on Oscar night. And for more on Oscar Night words, read the full article here on our blog: We'd Like to Thank the Academy...
This list has all the words you need to describe every aspect of youthful inexperience, from the endearing to the annoying. For more synonym lists, explore our Say What You Mean resources.