candid

[kan-did]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR candid ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

frank; outspoken; open and sincere: a candid critic.

free from reservation, disguise, or subterfuge; straightforward: a candid opinion.

informal; unposed: a candid photo.

honest; impartial: a candid mind.

Archaic. white.

Archaic. clear; pure.

noun

an unposed photograph.

Origin of candid

1620–30; (< French candide) < Latin candidus shining white, equivalent to cand(ēre) to be shining white (akin to incense¹) + -idus -id⁴

Related formscan·did·ly, adverbcan·did·ness, nounpseu·do·can·did, adjectivepseu·do·can·did·ly, adverbqua·si-can·did, adjectivequa·si-can·did·ly, adverbsub·can·did, adjectivesub·can·did·ly, adverbsub·can·did·ness, nounsu·per·can·did, adjectivesu·per·can·did·ly, adverbsu·per·can·did·ness, nounun·can·did, adjectiveun·can·did·ly, adverbun·can·did·ness, noun

Synonyms for candid

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR candid ON THESAURUS.COM

1. ingenuous, naive, plain. See frank¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for candidness

simplicity, frankness, unfamiliarity, virtue, plainness, lack, freshness, ignorance, inexperience, nescience, purity, sincerity, unawareness, candidness, credulousness, gullibility, ingenuousness, innocuousness, guilelessness, greenness

Examples from the Web for candidness

Contemporary Examples of candidness

But even he was surprised by the candidness of the final version.
God vs. the Internet. And the Winner is…
Michael Schulson
November 16, 2014
The setting, of course, is designed to allow an air of candidness, away from the Capitol Hill cameras and partisan zingers.
Obama’s Golf Diplomacy
Daniel Stone
June 17, 2011
It feels more like a peace offering than a warning, a casual gesture signifying her candidness.
Patti Smith's Private World
Rachel Wolff
January 7, 2010

Historical Examples of candidness

"You're not," she remonstrated with the candidness that John found later was so engaging.
Spring Street
James H. Richardson
The value of their joint production lies in this candidness.
The Political Future of India
Lajpat Rai
He struck the final note in the candidness of the establishment, a priest whose ritual contained no mysteries.
Jill the Reckless
P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse
To-day there are certain recognized courtesies of speech, and kindliness has taken the place of candidness.
Book of Etiquette, Volume 2
Lillian Eichler Watson

British Dictionary definitions for candidness

candid

adjective

frank and outspokenhe was candid about his dislike of our friends

without partiality; unbiased

unposed or informala candid photograph

obsolete

white
clear or pure

Derived Formscandidly, adverbcandidness, noun

Word Origin for candid

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for candidness

candid

adj.

1620s, "white," from Latin candidum "white; pure; sincere, honest, upright," from candere "to shine," from PIE root *kand- "to glow, to shine" (see candle). In English, metaphoric extension to "frank" first recorded 1670s (cf. French candide "open, frank, ingenuous, sincere"). Of photography, 1929. Related: Candidly; candidness.