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candid

adjective
can·​did | \ ˈkan-dəd How to pronounce candid (audio) \

Definition of candid

1a : marked by honest sincere expression a candid discussion
b : disposed to criticize severely : blunt candid critics
c : indicating or suggesting sincere honesty and absence of deception her candid face
2 : free from bias, prejudice, or malice : fair a candid observer
3 : relating to or being photography of subjects acting naturally or spontaneously without being posed candid photos of the family at play
4 : white candid flames
Other Words from candid Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym The Many Shades of Candid More Example Sentences Learn More about candid

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Other Words from candid

candidly adverb
candidness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for candid

frank, candid, open, plain mean showing willingness to tell what one feels or thinks. frank stresses lack of shyness or secretiveness or of evasiveness from considerations of tact or expedience. frank discussions candid suggests expression marked by sincerity and honesty especially in offering unwelcome criticism or opinion. a candid appraisal open implies frankness but suggests more indiscretion than frank and less earnestness than candid. open in saying what they think plain suggests outspokenness and freedom from affectation or subtlety in expression. plain talk

The Many Shades of Candid

It is interesting that candid, which has the original meaning in English of “white,” should have so many colors of meaning. The word comes from the French candide, which is from the Latin candidus (“bright, white”). Candid is not often used to mean “white” these days, and has shed another of its older meanings, “clear, pure.” Many of its current meanings are concerned with forms of honesty and forthrightness. It may refer to the indication or suggestion of sincere honesty (“her candid eyes”), or to something being marked by honest expression (“a candid talk”). However, it also carries the meaning of bluntness (or “disposed to criticize severely”), as well as “free from bias, prejudice, or malice.” The most recent sense it has taken on is in the vocabulary of photography: “relating to or being photography of subjects acting naturally or spontaneously without being posed.”

Examples of candid in a Sentence

If Bart Knaggs had been totally candid, he would have told me that when his prospective father-in-law, who was a doctor, had heard that the cancer had moved into my lungs, he said to Bart, "Well, your friend is dead." — Lance Armstrong, It's Not About the Bike, (2000) 2001 To be candid, I have wondered whether it is fair to write about a man for whom I cannot help but feel a real distaste. — Jill Lepore, Journal of American History, June 2001 There are candid 
 anecdotes of open-heart surgery. — Joyce Carol Oates, New York Times Book Review, 30 Sept. 1990 He was quite candid about his past. She gave us her candid opinion on the matter.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Citi has been more candid than other companies about the pay gap that exists for women and minorities inside the company. — Matt Egan, CNN, "Citigroup raises minimum wage to $15 after pressure from House Democrats," 28 Aug. 2019 The idea is that all parties can be extremely candid in an effort to resolve the case. — Courtney Shea, refinery29.com, "No, Jacob Hoggard’s Trial Will Not Begin September 27," 23 Aug. 2019 Chrissy Teigen is known for being totally candid about the personal aspects of her life. — Christina Oehler, Health.com, "Chrissy Teigen Just Got Botox in Her Armpits to Stop Sweating—Here's How That Works," 14 Aug. 2019 David Lopez was big on family, especially adored his 8-month-old nephew and 23-year-old niece, took special pleasure in eating and was very candid, bluntly so. — Tonya Alanez, sun-sentinel.com, "Cops couldn’t identify man killed by train. Then dog led them to heartbroken family.," 10 Aug. 2019 Crosby has always been more candid than most rock stars. — Amy Kaufman, latimes.com, "The cantankerous glory of David Crosby, who hates Spotify, wants to reunite CSNY and saved at least $25,000 growing pot," 11 July 2019 In a black and white video helmed by French creative Brigitte Lacombe, the 80-year-old model and actress gets candid in-front of the camera. — Nicole Saunders, Harper's BAZAAR, "Chanel Taps Ali MacGraw as the Face of Its New Watch Campaign," 30 Apr. 2019 Several of the officials who shared their candid views were unusually concerned with how they would be quoted, worried that specific words or phrases could be traced back to them. — al, "How Stephen Miller controls Trump’s immigration policy," 18 Aug. 2019 Several of the officials who shared their candid views were unusually concerned with how they would be quoted, worried that specific words or phrases could be traced back to them. — Author: Nick Miroff, Josh Dawsey, Anchorage Daily News, "Stephen Miller has singular control of Trump’s immigration policy," 17 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'candid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of candid

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 4

History and Etymology for candid

French & Latin; French candide, from Latin candidus bright, white, from candēre to shine, glow; akin to Welsh can white, Sanskrit candati it shines

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More Definitions for candid

candid

adjective
How to pronounce candid (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of candid

: expressing opinions and feelings in an honest and sincere way
photography : showing people acting in a natural way because they do not know that they are being photographed

See the full definition for candid in the English Language Learners Dictionary

candid

adjective
can·​did | \ ˈkan-dəd How to pronounce candid (audio) \

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