jejune

[ ji-joon ]

adjective

1. without interest or significance; dull; insipid:

   a jejune novel.

2. juvenile; immature; childish:

   jejune behavior.

3. lacking knowledge or experience; uninformed:

   jejune attempts to design a house.

4. deficient or lacking in nutritive value:

   a jejune diet.

jejune

/ dʒɪˈdʒuːn /

adjective

1. simple; naive; unsophisticated
2. insipid; dull; dry
3. lacking nourishment; insubstantial or barren

Derived Forms

• jeˈjunely, adverb
• jeˈjuneness, noun

Other Words From

• je·junely adverb
• je·juneness je·juni·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of jejune¹

First recorded in 1605–15, jejune is from the Latin word jējūnus empty, poor, mean

Word History and Origins

Origin of jejune¹

C17: from Latin jējūnus hungry, empty

Example Sentences

And to feel jejune if we slip from that lofty, arid plane to delight in something here and now.

From Washington Post

The jejune romantic comedy “Wedding Season” marries elements from a couple of recent entries to the genre: “Plus One” and “7 Days.”

From New York Times

By the end of the novel, his paranoia from the park is almost jejune compared to what’s in store for him.

From Washington Post

A model of punctiliousness and a font of jejune humor, he is appalled by the clutter his predecessor left.

From New York Times

I have read only “Pride and Prejudice” and “Sense and Sensibility,” and it was a long time ago, and like Cohen in her jejune early reading of the novels, I didn’t properly appreciate them.

From Washington Post