candor
Americannoun
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the state or quality of being frank, open, and sincere in speech or expression; candidness.
The candor of the speech impressed the audience.
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freedom from bias; fairness; impartiality.
to consider an issue with candor.
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Obsolete. kindliness.
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Obsolete. purity.
Etymology
Origin of candor
First recorded in 1350–1400 (for sense “extreme whiteness”); Middle English, from Latin: “radiance, whiteness”; see candid, -or 1
Explanation
Candor usually means the quality of being open, honest, and sincere. If someone tells you they think you're boring, you might reply with, "While I appreciate your candor, I don't think we need to be friends anymore." The corresponding adjective is candid, as in "I want you to be candid. Did everyone notice the spinach between my teeth when I gave my speech?" Candor is from French candeur, from Latin candēre, "to shine or be white." The color white is associated with purity, which is a now obsolete meaning of candor.
Vocabulary lists containing candor
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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Advanced English Words
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Fired unexpectedly in November 2023 by OpenAI's board for a lack of candor, he was reinstated under pressure from employees, but allegations of manipulation and a toxic culture dogged him throughout the trial.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
Altman, fired by OpenAI's board in November 2023 for a lack of candor before being reinstated under employee pressure, emerged with allegations of manipulation and a toxic work culture unresolved.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
I wanted candor, an open dialogue on the pros and cons of my proposal.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026
She said her brother’s candor about the army—raising questions about such thorny issues as widespread corruption—led counterintelligence to target him as a conspirator against the regime.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026
After all the secrecy that had come before, it was very strange indeed—in fact it was thrilling—to be spoken to with such candor and trust.
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
