candid

[kan-did]

adjective

1. frank; outspoken; open and sincere.

   a candid critic.

   Synonyms: plain, straightforward, guileless, ingenuous

2. free from reservation, disguise, or subterfuge; straightforward.

   a candid opinion.

3. informal; unposed

   a candid photo.

4. honest; impartial.

   a candid mind.

5. Archaic.,  white.

6. Archaic.,  clear; pure.

noun

1. an unposed photograph.

candid

/ ˈkændɪd /

adjective

1. frank and outspoken

   he was candid about his dislike of our friends

2. without partiality; unbiased

3. unposed or informal

   a candid photograph

4. obsolete

   1. white

   2. clear or pure

Other Word Forms

• candidly adverb
• candidness noun
• pseudocandid adjective
• quasi-candid adjective
• subcandid adjective
• supercandid adjective
• uncandid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of candid¹

First recorded in 1620–30; (from French candide ) from Latin candidus “shining white,” equivalent to cand(ēre) “to be shining white” (akin to incense ¹ ) + -idus -id ⁴

Word History and Origins

Origin of candid¹

C17: from Latin candidus white, from candēre to be white

Synonym Study

See frank ¹.

Example Sentences

He produced candid, often impish shots of the rockers on stage and off.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Collinsworth has successfully walked that line of being candid yet not crass, to always speak his mind even though his opinions often rankles fans of all 32 teams.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“There was a lo-fi quality about it. It had something candid that didn’t necessarily have an infantile tone but had a lightness. And we could add lyrics to that music.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Baroness Hallett said it was essential that leaders are "candid" about the scale of problems during an emergency but Hancock "did not adopt such an approach" to the crisis.

Read more on BBC

Meanwhile, his health secretary, Matt Hancock, is accused by Baroness Hallett of not being "candid" enough about the UK's ability to deal with the virus.

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Related Words

• blunt 
• forthright 
• impartial 
• outspoken 
• sincere 
• straightforward 
• truthful 
• unbiased 
• unequivocal