sim-PLIS-uh-tee
/sɪmˈplɪsəti/
simplicity is pronounced sim-PLIS-uh-tee (/sɪmˈplɪsəti/). Simplicity refers to the quality of being easy to understand or do, lacking complexity. It highlights clarity and straightforwardness, often valued for making things accessible. In broader use, it can describe minimalism or the absence of extraneous elements, emphasizing essential features.
Simplicity refers to the quality of being easy to understand or do, lacking complexity. It highlights clarity and straightforwardness, often valued for making things accessible. In broader use, it can describe minimalism or the absence of extraneous elements, emphasizing essential features.
"The beauty of simplicity is that it helps people grasp the concept quickly."
"She prioritized simplicity in the design, removing unnecessary features."
"You’ll appreciate the simplicity of the instructions—they’re easy to follow."
Pronounce as si-MPLIS-i-tee with four syllables. IPA US/UK/AUS: /sɪmˈplɪsɪti/. The primary stress falls on the second syllable ‘plis,’ and the final -ty is pronounced as -ti with a short i. Mouth position: begin with a short s, a quick light m, then the lip-use for /pl/ cluster, then a short /ɪ/ in 'slis', followed by /ɪ/ and final /ti/.
Common errors: misplacing stress (say ‘sim-PLI-ci-ty’); over-blunting the /l/ making it more like ‘sim-pwih-si-ty’; or pronouncing the final -ty as ‘tee’ with a long vowel. Correction: keep the /l/ light after the /m/ and keep /sɪ/ short, then stress the /plɪ/ syllable, and end with a clipped /ti/ rather than a drawn-out vowel. Practice with IPA cues and a quick mouth mirror.
In US/UK/AU, all share /sɪmˈplɪsɪti/. Rhotic influence in US means a slightly more pronounced r-quality only when followed by vowels; however, /ɹ/ is not present in this word. UK may be slightly crisper with /ə/ reductions, but here the second syllable remains /ˈplɪ/. Australian tends to be very forward with vowels, but retains the main stress on the second syllable. Overall, the pattern and stress stay constant; vowel quality shifts are subtle.
The difficulty lies in the stressed /ˈplɪ/ syllable with the adjacent /m/ and /l/ cluster, which requires precise lip and tongue coordination to avoid a mushy /mpli/ or over-emphasized /l/. The sequence /m-l/ can blur; maintain a light, quick transition to /sɪ/. Finally, keep the final /ti/ short and crisp; avoid elongating the final syllable.
Yes. In fast connected speech, speakers may slightly reduce the middle syllable to a quicker /sɪ/ or even a schwa-like /ɪ/ depending on pace, while retaining the core stress on /ˈplɪ/. The goal is to preserve intelligibility: ensure the /pl/ cluster remains clear and the final /ti/ remains distinct.
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Simplicity comes from Middle English simplite, from Old French simplicité, from Latin simplicitas, from simplex, which means 'onefold, simple' (from simplex, ‘one-fold’, from sim- ‘together’ + basis ‘fold’). The core notion evolved from “not folded” or “unmixed,” implying straightforwardness and lack of embellishment. The late Latin form simplicitas captures the abstract quality of being simple, not merely singular or plain. In English, the word broadened to refer to ease and lack of complexity in both objects and ideas. By the 14th–15th centuries, it appeared in theological and philosophical discussions about simplicity as virtue, and later in everyday language to describe designs, processes, and explanations that are easy to understand. The word’s semantic path also intersected with ‘simple’ as the adjective; ‘simplicity’ became the standard noun, used in arts, science, and rhetoric to praise or analyze clarity and minimalism. Today, it often carries a positive connotation: elegance through minimalism; negative implications appear when something is perceived as oversimplified or naïve. First known use in English aligns with the Middle English period, influenced by Norman French and Latin roots, with records pointing toward the 14th century as a time of broader adoption in literature and philosophy.
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Words that rhyme with "simplicity"
-ity sounds
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