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.
“National security is not my thing,” she said in a devastating instance of candor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
This effort succeeded, Glass said, despite the exhibit’s candor about the darker elements of the nation’s military history.
From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2026
Political Gabfest host Emily Bazelon praised the essay’s unflinching candor in exploring her relationship, noting that “it’s the honesty that makes me cry.”
From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026
"I believe deeply in the responsibility of museums to examine difficult histories with rigor, candor, and care. I also recognize the pain and concern this exhibition has caused," he said in a statement.
From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026
He seemed calm enough, tired but calm, and his intelligent eyes met mine with a sad, quiet candor.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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.
