plain
1 of 5adjective
ˈplān 
1
: lacking ornament : undecorated
2
: free of extraneous matter : pure
3
: free of impediments to view : unobstructed
4
a(1)
: evident to the mind or senses : obvious
it's perfectly plain that they will resist
(2)
: clear
let me make my meaning plain
b
: marked by outspoken candor : free from duplicity or subtlety : blunt
plain talk
5
a
: belonging to the masses : common
b
: lacking special distinction or affectation : ordinary
6
: characterized by simplicity : not complicated
plain home-cooked meals
7
: lacking beauty or ugliness
8
archaic : even, level
plainly adverb
plainness
ˈplān-nəs
noun plain
2 of 5noun
1
a
: an extensive area of level or rolling treeless country
b
: a broad unbroken expanse
2
: something free from artifice, ornament, or extraneous matter
plain
3 of 5adverb (1)
: in a plain manner : without obscurity or ambiguity
saw them clearly and told you plain 
Amer. Documentation
Amer. Documentationplain
4 of 5adverb (2)
: absolutely sense 1a
plain wrong
plain
5 of 5verb
plained; plaining; plains
intransitive verb
archaic
: complain
Synonyms
Adjective
- bald
- bare
- naked
- plain-vanilla
- simple
- unadorned
- undecorated
- unembellished
- unornamented
- unvarnished
Noun
- campo
- champaign
- down(s)
- grassland
- heath
- lea
- ley
- llano
- moor
- pampa
- prairie
- savanna
- savannah
- steppe
- tundra
- veld
- veldt
Adverb (1)
- directly
- forthrightly
- foursquare
- plainly
- straight
- straightforward
- straightforwards
- straightforwardly
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective It was a plain room with no curtains. She was wearing plain black shoes. He printed the picture on plain paper. a piece of plain chicken You don't have to call me Mr. Johnson—just plain Fred will be fine. What he said is a lie, plain and simple. Noun the Great Plains of the United States the first settlers in that area lived on the vast plains in lonely log cabins See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin planum, from neuter of planus flat, plain — more at floor
Adverb (2)
partly from Middle English plein entire, complete, from Anglo-French, full, from Latin plenus; partly from plain entry 3 — more at full
Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French pleindre, plaindre, from Latin plangere to lament — more at plaint
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 8
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adverb (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Adverb (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing plain
Kids Definition
plain 1 of 3
adjective
ˈplān
plainer; plainest
1
: having no pattern or decoration
a plain jacket
2
: not handsome or beautiful
3
: not hard to do or understand
The lesson was explained in plain words.
The directions were plain.
4
: without anything having been added
He eats plain yogurt.
5
: open and clear to the sight
I left my money in plain view.
6
: frank
The judge is famous for her plain speaking.
7
: of common or average accomplishments or position : ordinary
just plain folks
plain
2 of 3noun
: a large area of level or rolling treeless land
plain
3 of 3adverb
: without any question : to a complete degree
… she's just plain jealous when I'm at the piano and she's not. Karen Hesse, Out of the Dust
Karen Hesse, Out of the Dustplain 1 of 3
adjective
1
as in simple
free from all additions or embellishment I like my hamburgers plain, with no ketchup or relish just give us the plain facts and none of your snide comments Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- simple
- unadorned
- naked
- bare
- undecorated
- unornamented
- stripped
- unvarnished
- clean
- bald
- unembellished
- plain-vanilla
- restrained
- quiet
- honest
- homely
- spartan
- unsophisticated
- denuded
- modest
- elemental
- bleak
- subdued
- earthy
- natural
- stark
- divested
- unpretentious
- austere
- forthright
- inconspicuous
- muted
- minimalist
- conservative
- severe
- unobtrusive
- understated
- antiseptic
- sober
- au naturel
- toned (down)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fancy
- gaudy
- ornamented
- showy
- flashy
- garish
- embellished
- decorated
- loud
- tawdry
- adorned
- ornate
- ostentatious
- glitzy
- flamboyant
- swanky
- glittery
- florid
- swank
- exaggerated
- lurid
- ornate
- splashy
- elaborate
- overwrought
- extravagant
- bedizened
- baroque
- overdecorated
- overdone
- embroidered
- rococo
- dressed
- trimmed
- arrayed
- garnished
- bedecked
- apparelled
- appareled
- decked-out
2
as in pure
free from added matter I'd prefer my pasta plain, not flavored with tomato or spinach or anything else Synonyms & Similar Words
- pure
- fresh
- unadulterated
- straight
- neat
- tried
- undiluted
- unmixed
- refined
- fine
- purified
- clean
- absolute
- unalloyed
- filtered
- rendered
- concentrated
- untainted
- unpolluted
- uncontaminated
- clarified
- undefiled
- uncorrupted
- strong
- uncombined
- taintless
- full-bodied
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- mixed
- contaminated
- adulterated
- polluted
- impure
- alloyed
- spoiled
- debased
- soiled
- diluted
- tainted
- corrupted
- defiled
- sullied
- compounded
- befouled
- incorporated
- blended
- intermixed
- unclarified
- fouled
- combined
- intermingled
- mingled
- fused
- amalgamated
- commingled
- besmirched
- joined
- merged
- linked
- conjoined
- united
- doctored
- coalesced
- cheapened
- watered-down
3
as in outspoken
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions their piano teacher is honest and plain, if not always tactful Synonyms & Similar Words
- outspoken
- honest
- straightforward
- frank
- candid
- straight
- plainspoken
- direct
- blunt
- open
- forthcoming
- vocal
- forthright
- unguarded
- unpretending
- real
- artless
- unreserved
- unaffected
- naive
- guileless
- earnest
- free-spoken
- foursquare
- openhearted
- unpretentious
- ingenuous
- sincere
- out-front
- up-front
- rude
- innocent
- natural
- freehearted
- crusty
- gruff
- curt
- bluff
- outgoing
- uninhibited
- thoughtless
- brusque
- undesigning
- unsubtle
- unrestrained
- naïve
- abrupt
- tactless
- sharp
- vociferous
- inconsiderate
- impertinent
- impolite
- brusk
- unmannerly
- undiplomatic
- uncivil
- ungracious
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- laconic
- restrained
- quiet
- uncandid
- ambiguous
- reserved
- dissembling
- taciturn
- uncommunicative
- reticent
- inhibited
- evasive
- circuitous
- unforthcoming
- equivocal
- diplomatic
- polite
- civil
- tactful
- politic
- close-mouthed
- tight-lipped
- courteous
- considerate
4
as in straightforward
going straight to the point clearly and firmly a plain report on the current situation Synonyms & Similar Words
- straightforward
- straight
- direct
- blunt
- honest
- candid
- forthright
- frank
- artless
- true
- plainspoken
- foursquare
- earnest
- sincere
- sharp
- curt
- unguarded
- open
- bluff
- outspoken
- gruff
- brusque
- rude
- uninhibited
- aboveboard
- tactless
- unreserved
- abrupt
- truthful
- free-spoken
- brusk
- inconsiderate
- unrestrained
- impolite
- openhearted
- undiplomatic
- veracious
- point-blank
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- indirect
- wordy
- verbose
- circuitous
- roundabout
- prolix
- lying
- restrained
- polite
- civil
- circumlocutory
- reserved
- deceitful
- mendacious
- erroneous
- ambiguous
- misleading
- tactful
- false
- untruthful
- long-winded
- inhibited
- courteous
- fallacious
- hypocritical
- evasive
- equivocal
- two-faced
- double-dealing
5
as in obvious
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation let me make my meaning plain Synonyms & Similar Words
- obvious
- apparent
- clear
- straightforward
- evident
- unmistakable
- simple
- distinct
- broad
- transparent
- visible
- unambiguous
- perspicuous
- lucid
- manifest
- pellucid
- patent
- luminous
- bald
- unequivocal
- ringing
- decided
- barefaced
- crystal clear
- intelligible
- clear-cut
- comprehensible
- understandable
- explicit
- palpable
- bald-faced
- open-and-shut
- unambivalent
- nonambiguous
- noticeable
- luculent
- tangible
- uncomplicated
- bright-line
- recognizable
- overt
- tidy
- knowable
- digestible
- sensible
- comprehendible
- graspable
- self-explanatory
- undisguised
- observable
- discernible
- fathomable
- cognizable
- self-evident
- readable
- appreciable
- perceptible
- legible
- clean-cut
- clean
- trenchant
- cognoscible
- decipherable
- black-and-white
- discernable
- well-defined
- fair
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- obscure
- dark
- ambiguous
- cryptic
- mysterious
- indistinct
- unintelligible
- unclear
- incomprehensible
- enigmatic
- indecipherable
- equivocal
- clouded
- gray
- grey
- unfathomable
- vague
- subtle
- enigmatical
- obfuscated
- unknowable
- imperceptible
- unapparent
- sketchy
- insensible
- cloudy
- misty
- impalpable
- unclarified
- indeterminate
- nebulous
- murky
- inappreciable
- hazy
- nonobvious
- unreadable
- gauzy
- slippery
- noncommittal
- indefinite
- illegible
- imprecise
- indiscernible
- undecipherable
plain
2 of 3adverb
as in plainly
in an honest and direct manner told her plain that he loved her Synonyms & Similar Words
- straightforward
- plainly
- straight
- simply
- openly
- straightforwards
- sincerely
- straightforwardly
- honestly
- frankly
- abruptly
- directly
- sharply
- foursquare
- forthrightly
- baldly
- bluffly
- bluntly
- unguardedly
- rudely
- artlessly
- candidly
- brusquely
- unreservedly
- truthfully
- earnestly
- openheartedly
- tactlessly
- curtly
- gruffly
- inconsiderately
- impolitely
- point-blank
- veraciously
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- wordily
- verbosely
- politely
- tactfully
- diplomatically
- deceitfully
- courteously
- falsely
- mendaciously
- erroneously
- untruthfully
- ambiguously
- hypocritically
- long-windedly
- civilly
- insincerely
- indirectly
- fallaciously
- evasively
- circuitously
- equivocally
plain
3 of 3noun
1
as in prairie
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country the first settlers in that area lived on the vast plains in lonely log cabins Synonyms & Similar Words
- prairie
- steppe
- grassland
- pampa
- meadow
- savanna
- champaign
- veld
- moor
- tundra
- heath
- flat
- lea
- campo
- savannah
- field
- llano
- veldt
- down(s)
- lowland
- ley
- plateau
- upland
- floodplain
- tableland
- table
- bottomland
- bottom
2
as in expanse
a wide space or area the vast plains of snow-covered earth that seemed to stretch endlessly Synonyms & Similar Words
- expanse
- expansion
- sheet
- stretch
- length
- reach
- distance
- extent
- field
- spread
- waste
- breadth
- scope
- territory
- domain
- sphere
- depth
- spectrum
- scale
- range
- sweep
- extension
- void
- gamut
- compass
- span
- emptiness
- amplitude
- latitude
- magnitude
- immensity
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of plain are candid, frank, and open. While all these words mean "showing willingness to tell what one feels or thinks," plain suggests outspokenness and freedom from affectation or subtlety in expression.
plain talk
Although the words candid and plain have much in common, candid suggests expression marked by sincerity and honesty especially in offering unwelcome criticism or opinion.
a candid appraisal
In some situations, the words frank and plain are roughly equivalent. However, frank stresses lack of shyness or secretiveness or of evasiveness from considerations of tact or expedience.
frank discussions
Open implies frankness but suggests more indiscretion than frank and less earnestness than candid.
open in saying what they think