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plainness
/ˈpleɪnnəs/
lack of decoration or complexity
The beauty of the design lies in its plainness, with no unnecessary details.
The design's appeal comes from its simplicity and lack of extra features.
neutral
the quality of being simple, ordinary, or without decoration
The plainness of the room made it feel more spacious and inviting.
The room's lack of decoration created a sense of openness and comfort.
Her writing is admired for its plainness, avoiding flowery language.
Critics praise her straightforward, unadorned writing style.
Often used to describe visual, verbal, or conceptual simplicity. Can imply a lack of pretension or elegance.
Collocations
plainness of stylea straightforward or unembellished way of expressing ideasplainness of appearancea lack of decorative elements in how something looks
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'plainness' in formal writing
While acceptable, 'plainness' can sound archaic or overly abstract. Prefer 'simplicity' or 'clarity' in most contexts unless you're discussing aesthetics or minimalism.
Gold Rule
Plainness vs. simplicity
'Plainness' emphasizes lack of decoration, while 'simplicity' focuses on ease or minimalism. A plain dress may lack patterns, but a simple dress may have functional, uncluttered design.
Word Origin
From Middle English *plainnesse*, derived from Old French *plain* (flat, level, clear) and Latin *planus* (flat, even, clear), related to *planus* (plain, level). The sense of 'lack of decoration' emerged in the 16th century.
Usage Notes
Plainness can carry neutral or slightly negative connotations depending on context. In aesthetics, it may be valued (e.g., minimalism), but in social contexts, it might imply a lack of refinement. Avoid confusing with 'plain' as in 'ordinary' (e.g., 'a plain dress')—plainness refers to the *quality* of being unadorned.
Word Breakdown
plain
simple, unadorned
root-ness
suffix forming abstract nouns indicating a state or quality
suffixEnglish Dictionary