simple

simple — adjective

1. not difficult to do, understand, or deal with because there are not many parts o

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

not difficult to do, understand, or deal with because there are not many parts or steps involved

Example

The instructions for this game are very simple — even a young child can follow them.

collocation: very simple + for emphasis

Ada showed me a simple way to fix the broken drawer without hiring anyone.

Common collocations
  • simple question
  • simple answer
  • simple way
  • simple solution
  • very simple
Synonyms
  • easy

    emphasizes low effort; 'simple' emphasizes lack of complexity

  • straightforward

    more formal; suggests clarity and logic

  • uncomplicated

    slightly more formal; neutral in tone

Antonyms

Usage Note

Common in questions and instructions. Often used with 'it' as a dummy subject: 'It is simple to check the oil level.'

Common Mistakes

This math problem is simplistic.
This math problem is simple.
'simplistic' means overly simple in a bad way, ignoring complexity; 'simple' just means not complex.

2. used before a noun to highlight that a particular fact, reason, or truth is the

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

used before a noun to highlight that a particular fact, reason, or truth is the only important one, without adding extra complications

Example

The simple truth is that Kian forgot to buy the train tickets on time.

pattern: the simple truth/fact/reason + is that...

The simple reason we lost is that we did not practice enough as a team.

Common collocations
  • simple fact
  • simple truth
  • simple reason
  • simple answer
  • simple point
Synonyms
  • plain

    similar but sounds more direct and sometimes blunter

  • mere

    stronger emphasis on smallness or insignificance of the cause

Usage Note

Only used before nouns (attributive position). Most common with 'fact', 'truth', 'reason', 'answer', 'point'.

3. made in a basic style with no extra decoration, patterns, or details added for s

3.adjectiveB1
Definition

made in a basic style with no extra decoration, patterns, or details added for show

Example

Valentina wore a simple black dress and no jewellery to the ceremony.

collocation: simple black dress / simple white shirt

The couple chose a simple wooden table with no carvings for their new kitchen.

Common collocations
  • simple dress
  • simple design
  • simple meal
  • simple furniture
  • simple style
Synonyms
  • plain

    very similar; 'plain' can suggest dullness, while 'simple' often suggests intentional minimalism

  • basic

    suggests the lowest level of features or quality

  • unadorned

    more formal and literary; means without any decoration

Antonyms
  • fancy

    has extra decorative features

  • ornate

    heavily decorated with many details

Usage Note

Often used approvingly to suggest elegance through minimalism. Contrasts with 'ornate', 'fancy', or 'elaborate'.

Common Mistakes

She wore a simply black dress.
She wore a simple black dress.
'simply' is an adverb and changes the meaning to 'just' or 'merely'.

4. built from very few pieces without many connected parts or layers

4.adjectiveB1
Definition

built from very few pieces without many connected parts or layers

Example

A simple knife consists of just a blade and a handle joined together.

before noun: simple + tool/device

Esteban designed a simple machine that uses only three moving parts to lift heavy boxes.

Common collocations
  • simple tool
  • simple machine
  • simple mechanism
  • simple design
  • simple device
Synonyms
  • basic

    emphasizes minimal features rather than few parts

  • elementary

    suggests the simplest level; also means 'introductory'

  • primitive

    suggests early stage of development, not just simplicity

Antonyms
  • complex

    made of many interconnected parts

  • compound

    composed of multiple similar parts

Usage Note

Only used before nouns (attributive position). Describes the physical composition of objects, tools, and machines.

5. describes a way of living, eating, or doing things that follows traditional or n

5.adjectiveB1
Definition

describes a way of living, eating, or doing things that follows traditional or natural patterns rather than modern, complicated, or artificial ones

Example

Christopher moved to the countryside and now enjoys a simple life growing vegetables.

collocation: simple life / simple living

Inês prefers simple meals made from ingredients she grows in her own garden.

Common collocations
  • simple life
  • simple living
  • simple food
  • simple pleasures
  • simple way of life
Synonyms
  • natural

    focuses on being unaffected by human intervention

  • rustic

    describes the countryside; can suggest roughness as well as simplicity

  • unpretentious

    does not try to impress; describes people or lifestyles

Antonyms
  • elaborate

    involves many details or careful planning

  • artificial

    not natural; made by human effort to imitate something

Usage Note

Often carries a positive, romanticized tone — suggesting that a simpler life is purer, healthier, or more authentic than a modern one.

6. old-fashioned and now often considered offensive; describes someone who has diff

6.adjectiveB2
Definition

old-fashioned and now often considered offensive; describes someone who has difficulty learning or understanding things that most people find easy

Example

In the old story, the villagers call the boy 'simple' because he cannot read.

old-fashioned usage — now considered offensive

Pim read an old novel about a simple farmhand treated cruelly by his employers.

Synonyms
  • foolish

    suggests poor judgment rather than low intelligence

  • slow

    informal and still sometimes used, but also considered offensive by some

Usage Note

Now widely considered offensive when referring to a person's intelligence. Modern alternatives include 'person with learning disabilities' or 'person with intellectual disabilities'. In older literature, this usage was common but should not be used today.

Common Mistakes

He is simple.
He has a learning disability.
Using 'simple' to describe a person's intelligence is outdated and offensive in modern English.
Idioms

pure and simple

idiom

Used after a noun to emphasize that something is exactly that and nothing else.

The reason for the delay was bad planning, pure and simple.

Is this a case of jealousy, pure and simple?

simple — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Simple, easy, straightforward, and uncomplicated all describe things that are not difficult, but they focus on different aspects. Simple means 'not complex in nature' — something may have few parts or steps. Easy means 'not requiring much effort' — something may be simple (few parts) but still hard to do, or complex (many parts) but easy because you are skilled at it. For example, a jigsaw puzzle is simple (just pieces that fit together) but not easy if there are thousands of tiny pieces. Straightforward emphasizes clarity: a straightforward task has a clear path from start to finish with no hidden steps or confusion. Uncomplicated is the most formal of the four and simply states that nothing has been added to make the task harder. In everyday speech, simple and easy are often used as if they mean the same thing, but this difference matters: 'This recipe is simple' means it has few ingredients and steps; 'This recipe is easy' means you can make it quickly without much skill.

simple ↗easy ↗straightforward ↗uncomplicated ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • simple answer
  • simple solution
  • simple question
  • simple fact
  • simple truth
  • simple reason
  • simple life
  • simple meal
  • simple design
  • simple way
  • simple method
  • simple explanation

Adverbs

  • quite simple
  • very simple
  • relatively simple
  • fairly simple
  • extremely simple
  • deceptively simple

Phrases

  • in simple terms
  • keep it simple
  • as simple as that
  • simple as can be

Prepositions

  • simple for
  • simple to

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'simple' comes from the Latin word 'simplus', which meant 'single' or 'onefold'. It is made of 'sem-' (one) and '-plus' (fold). A related Latin word 'simplex' (single, plain) also influenced the English form. The word entered English through Old French 'simple' around the 1200s. Its earliest meanings were about having only one part or ingredient, and over time it developed the broader senses of 'easy to understand', 'without decoration', and 'plain'. The noun meaning 'a person lacking intelligence' appeared in the 1500s.