frankly

American  

[frangk-lee] / ˈfræŋk li /

adverb

1. in a frank manner; freely; candidly; openly; plainly.

   He presented his arguments frankly and objectively.

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frankly British  

/ ˈfræŋklɪ /

adverb

1. (sentence modifier) in truth; to be honest

   frankly, I can't bear him

2. in a frank manner

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Etymology

Origin of frankly

First recorded in 1530–40; frank ¹ + -ly

Explanation

To say something frankly is to be completely honest and straightforward. It's unusual when a politician answers reporters' questions frankly. When someone's frank, they are plainspoken and truthful, and when you communicate frankly, your words have this quality. Telling people frankly that you need their help, or expressing criticism frankly but kindly can be difficult at times, but it's something to strive for. Frank and frankly have a Medieval Latin root, francus, "free, or at liberty."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

frankly

And frankly, a film as pleasant but ephemeral as this isn’t going to push democracy any further into the dark.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

“I don’t like the distancing I’m seeing from some of the councillors, that ‘We know better than you,’ because, frankly, they don’t,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

Speaking in central London, Polanksi said higher temperatures were posing a "threat to our way of life" on multiple fronts, whilst footage of wildfires across Europe were "frankly apocalyptic".

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

“I find that question pretty offensive, frankly, when people start speculating about my death and my health,” he told a Swiss newspaper at the time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

I began searching my mind for a consoling way to view the roadside sights and also, frankly, for something likely to impress Farmer.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French