simple

Simple is an adjective with several related meanings. It primarily describes something easy to understand or perform, lacking unnecessary complexity or difficulty. It can also refer to something plain, straightforward, or undecorated, and to something comprised of a single component rather than a combination of parts.

Originating in Latin, simple is from simplex, meaning “one-fold” or “single.” The Latin term comes from sim- “one” and the sense of folding or doubling, and it entered English through Old French and Middle English. The word has maintained a sense of unadorned or fundamental quality across usage.

In science, simple often distinguishes basic or pure forms from more complex ones. In chemistry, a simple substance is a pure chemical substance that cannot be decomposed by ordinary means; in contrast with a compound. In medicine, a simple fracture refers to a closed break with no wound in the skin. In botany, a simple leaf has a single blade rather than leaflets. In grammar, a simple sentence contains one independent clause and expresses a straightforward thought.

In everyday use, “simple” can describe solutions, designs, or explanations that are easy to grasp, sometimes implying a lack of sophistication. The related noun form “simplicity” and the concept of the simple life emphasize clarity and restraint rather than ornate complexity. The term appears across disciplines and in common speech, reflecting a preference for minimalism, clarity, or fundamental constituents.