gullible

[guhl-uh-buh l] /ˈgʌl ə bəl/

adjective

easily deceived or cheated.

Also, gullable.

Origin

1815-25; gull² + -ible

Related forms

gullibility, noun

gullibly, adverb

Synonyms

credulous, trusting, naive, innocent, simple, green.

Examples from the web for gullibility

Someone is making a fortune on the gullibility of people.
And he thrived in an era of cheap credit, when greed and gullibility became far more powerful than fear and suspicion.
But beneath all this playacting and conceit and gullibility was a pith of seriousness.
Fraud victims often lack support from family and friends, who blame them or make fun of them for their gullibility.
She said the vote on the indoor smoking ban was a test of our gullibility as consumers.

British Dictionary definitions for gullibility

/ˈɡʌləbəl/

adjective

easily taken in or tricked

Derived Forms

gullibility, noun
gullibly, adverb

Word Origin and History for gullibility

1793, earlier cullibility (1728), probably from gull (n.2) "dupe, sucker" + -ability.

adj.

1825, apparently a back-formation from gullibility. Gullable is attested from 1818.