Words / C2

ji-JOON/dʒɪˈdʒuːn/

Jejune means naive, dull, or too thin for the subject: a jejune analysis, jejune remarks. Simplistic is everyday and milder; immature and thin are close; vapid stresses emptiness. Formal, and typically pejorative — a put-down of someone’s thought, not a neutral “beginner.” In speech, thin and naive or intellectually undernourished is the charge. Use it knowing it sounds unkind and donnish. Do not reach for jejune as a clever synonym for simple when simple was adequate; the word sneers.

Meaning

Naive, dull, or too simple for the subject (formal, often unkind).

Examples

• “The analysis was jejune and skipped the data.”
• “The analysis was jejune and skipped the data; simplicity was not the problem, shallowness was.”
• “A jejune “be kind” slide is not an ethics module — and jejune is itself a sneer, so use it sparingly.”

Good to know

Naive, dull, or intellectually thin (formal, pejorative). Everyday: simplistic / thin. A donnish insult, not a neutral “simple.” Do not use it as stylish scorn for beginners.

Near in meaning

simplistic

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