Standard Lemma guide

ingenue

noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈɑnʒənu/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌænʒeɪˈnjuː/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: IH1 N JH EH2 N Y UW2 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: AA1 N JH AH0 N UW2 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 3: IH0 N JH EH1 N UW0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 4: IH1 N JH AH0 N UW0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An innocent, unsophisticated, naïve, wholesome girl or young woman.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Near-synonym: girl next door

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: girl next door

Antonyms: femme fatale, enchantress, man-eater, mantrap, seductress, she-wolf, siren, temptress, vamp, vixen, wolfess

Broader terms: person

2

noun

Meaning 2

A dramatic role of such a woman; an actress playing such a role.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: broadcasting, entertainment, film, lifestyle, media, television, theater

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: stock character

3

noun

Meaning 3

Misspelling of ingenu.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, misspelling, rare

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

the role of an innocent artless young woman in a play

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: character, role, theatrical role, part, persona

5

noun

Meaning 5

an artless innocent young girl (especially as portrayed on the stage)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: juvenile, juvenile person

6

noun

Meaning 6

an actress who specializes in playing the role of an artless innocent young girl

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: actor, histrion, player, thespian, role player

History

Etymology

Borrowed from French ingénue, the feminine form of ingénu (“guileless”), originally from the Latin ingenuus (“ingenuous”).

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Hungarian: naiva — a dramatic role of such a woman; an actress playing such a role
  • Hungarian: szende — a dramatic role of such a woman; an actress playing such a role
  • Japanese: アンジェーヌ — a dramatic role of such a woman; an actress playing such a role
  • Russian: инженю́ (inženjú) — a dramatic role of such a woman; an actress playing such a role