Meaning
mere, pure
- mere, pure, simple, sheer
In a sentence
È un mero errore, non ti preoccupare.
It's a mere mistake, don't worry.
Hai fatto tutto per mero interesse?
Did you do everything out of mere self-interest?
Non è mera fortuna, hai studiato tanto.
It's not mere luck, you studied a lot.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| mero | masculine · singular |
| mera | feminine · singular |
| meri | masculine · plural |
| mere | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Usually placed before the noun: una mera formalità, il mero fatto. Post-nominal position sounds unusual.
- More formal and bookish than semplice or puro. Common in writing, bureaucracy, journalism, and legal language.
- Often used to downplay importance: mero dettaglio, mera ipotesi. Don't overuse it in casual conversation.