# simple

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈsɪm.pəl/ · frequency rank #886

## Definitions
1. Uncomplicated; lacking complexity; taken by itself, with nothing added.
2. Easy; not difficult.
3. Without ornamentation; plain.
4. Free from duplicity; guileless, innocent, straightforward.
5. Undistinguished in social condition; of no special rank.
6. Trivial; insignificant.
7. Feeble-minded; foolish.
8. Structurally uncomplicated.
9. Structurally uncomplicated.
10. Structurally uncomplicated.
11. Structurally uncomplicated.
12. Structurally uncomplicated.
13. Structurally uncomplicated.
14. Structurally uncomplicated.
15. Structurally uncomplicated.
16. Structurally uncomplicated.
17. Structurally uncomplicated.
18. Structurally uncomplicated.
19. Structurally uncomplicated.
20. Mere; not other than; being only.

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English symple, simple, from Old French simple, from Latin simplex (“simple”, literally “onefold”) (as opposed to duplex (“double”, literally “twofold”)), from semel (“the same”) + plicō (“I fold”). See same and fold. Compare single, singular, simultaneous, etc.
Partially displaced native English onefold.

## Easily confused with
- **smile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/simple-vs-smile)
- **single** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/simple-vs-single)
- **simply** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/simple-vs-simply)
- **staple** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/simple-vs-staple)
- **supple** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/simple-vs-supple)
- **sizzle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/simple-vs-sizzle)
- **simpler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/simple-vs-simpler)
- **simplex** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/simple-vs-simplex)
- **simplest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/simple-vs-simplest)
- **sample** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sample-vs-simple)
- **Simone** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/simone-vs-simple)
- **sickle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sickle-vs-simple)
- **Simcoe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/simcoe-vs-simple)
- **sampler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sampler-vs-simple)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ismple`, `simlpe`, `simmple`, `simpel`, `simplle`, `simpple`, `sipmle`, `smiple`, `ssimple`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/simple