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.
“National security is not my thing,” she said in a devastating instance of candor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
Political Gabfest host Emily Bazelon praised the essay’s unflinching candor in exploring her relationship, noting that “it’s the honesty that makes me cry.”
From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026
Enter the Goo Man, founder of Incredible Meat, whose sales pitch has the refreshing candor of someone who knows exactly what business he is in.
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026
While the characters have only a tenuous connection to the theme of vehicles, the original costumes they’re modeling are enchanting in their candor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
The Envoy spoke well, with moving candor and urgency.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
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.
