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

Frankly, it was a factor behind my own exit from dairy farming, and the shortage of help is also a big deterrent for young people hoping to become farmers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

"Frankly, in the Gulf countries you can simply ask for money," political analyst Taras Zagorodniy suggested to AFP in a telephone interview.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Frankly, I would have been just as curious to see that version of the storyline — or one that took Tae’s determination to win “Wildcard” more seriously.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

Frankly, if Streeting had wanted to go first, he'd probably have made a move already.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

Frankly, I don’t care about Enobaria, the vicious District 2 tribute.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins