Simplistic
/sɪmˈplɪs.ɪst/noun
Treating a complicated subject as if it were much simpler than it really is.
Did you know?The Latin ancestor simplex could describe a medicine or herb used alone, without being blended into a compound—an unusually literal link between simplicity and singleness.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sem-
“One; together; forming a single unit”
Classical Latin
Latin
simplex
“Single, onefold, not mixed or compounded”
Classical Latin
Latin
simplicis
“Of one kind; plain, straightforward, or uncomplicated”
12th Century
Old French
simple
“Plain, ordinary, uncomplicated, or innocent”
Middle English
English
simple
“Uncomplicated, inexperienced, humble, or lacking sophistication”
1920s
English
simplistic
“Overly simple; reducing a complex matter too crudely”
Explore more surprising origins