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candid

[kan-did]
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adjective
  1. frank; outspoken; open and sincere: a candid critic.
  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.
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noun
  1. an unposed photograph.
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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

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. 2018

Examples from the Web for candidness

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • "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.

  • 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
  1. frank and outspokenhe was candid about his dislike of our friends
  2. without partiality; unbiased
  3. unposed or informala candid photograph
  4. obsolete
    1. white
    2. clear or pure
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Derived Formscandidly, adverbcandidness, noun

Word Origin

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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper