candor
Americannoun
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the state or quality of being frank, open, and sincere in speech or expression; candidness.
The candor of the speech impressed the audience.
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freedom from bias; fairness; impartiality.
to consider an issue with candor.
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Obsolete. kindliness.
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Obsolete. purity.
Etymology
Origin of candor
First recorded in 1350–1400 (for sense “extreme whiteness”); Middle English, from Latin: “radiance, whiteness”; see candid, -or 1
Explanation
Candor usually means the quality of being open, honest, and sincere. If someone tells you they think you're boring, you might reply with, "While I appreciate your candor, I don't think we need to be friends anymore." The corresponding adjective is candid, as in "I want you to be candid. Did everyone notice the spinach between my teeth when I gave my speech?" Candor is from French candeur, from Latin candēre, "to shine or be white." The color white is associated with purity, which is a now obsolete meaning of candor.
Vocabulary lists containing candor
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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Advanced English Words
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Her candor has been revered as much as it’s been reviled.
From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026
This exemplary service failed to account for her disturbingly poor judgment, risking blackmail and conflict-of-interest allegations, since the Atlanta Police Department appears before her court; nor her lack of candor to the court.
From Slate ● Jun. 8, 2026
Fired unexpectedly in November 2023 by OpenAI's board for a lack of candor, he was reinstated under pressure from employees, but allegations of manipulation and a toxic culture dogged him throughout the trial.
From Barron's ● May 18, 2026
What about Alex Honnold — his candor is refreshing but he still seems eager to puncture Dean’s mystique.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 13, 2026
I had no problem with admitting mistakes, however, and thought the sergeant might be pleasantly surprised by candor.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
