ingénue

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ænʒeɪˈnjuː/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈænʒəˌnu/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(an′zhə no̅o̅′, -nyo̅o̅′; Fr. an zhā ny′)



WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
in•gé•nue or in•ge•nue /ˈænʒəˌnu/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. Show Businessthe role of an innocent, unworldly young woman, esp. as represented on the stage.
  2. Show Businessan actress who plays such a role.
See -gen-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
in•gé•nue  (an′zhə no̅o̅′, -nyo̅o̅′; Fr. an zhā ny′),USA pronunciation n., pl. -nues 
    (-no̅o̅z′, -nyo̅o̅z′; Fr. -ny′).USA pronunciation 
  1. Show Businessthe part of an artless, innocent, unworldly girl or young woman, esp. as represented on the stage.
  2. Show Businessan actress who plays such a part or specializes in playing such parts.
Also, in′ge•nue′. 
  • Latin ingenuus native, inborn, etc; see ingenuous
  • French, feminine of ingénu
  • 1840–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
ingénue /ˌænʒeɪˈnjuː; French: ɛ̃ʒeny/ n
  1. an artless, innocent, or inexperienced girl or young woman
Etymology: 19th Century: from French, feminine of ingénu ingenuous

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