candor

[kan-der]

noun

the state or quality of being frank, open, and sincere in speech or expression; candidness: The candor of the speech impressed the audience.

freedom from bias; fairness; impartiality: to consider an issue with candor.

Obsolete. kindliness.

Obsolete. purity.

Also especially British, can·dour.

Origin of candor

1350–1400 (for sense “extreme whiteness”); Middle English < Latin: radiance, whiteness; see candid, -or¹

Synonyms for candor

2. openness, frankness, honesty, truthfulness.

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

Examples from the Web for candour

Historical Examples of candour

Candour and sincerity may be recommended from this example, as the best policy.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. I
Francis Augustus Cox
And the Vignerons' delight in living was displayed in all candour.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
The value of candour in individuals should be measured by their sensibility to shame.
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
But has she had the candour, the openness, to acknowledge that love?
Clarissa, Volume 3 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
All mankind are like us, but they have not the candour to avow it.'
Barnaby Rudge
Charles Dickens

British Dictionary definitions for candour

candour

US candor

noun

the quality of being open and honest; frankness

fairness; impartiality

obsolete purity or brightness

Word Origin for candour

C17: from Latin candor, from candēre to be white, shine

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 candour

chiefly British English spelling of candor (q.v.); for spelling, see -or.

candor

"openness of mind, impartiality, frankness," c.1600, from Latin candor "purity, openness," originally "whiteness," from candere "to shine, to be white" (see candle). Borrowed earlier in English (c.1500) with the Latin literal sense "extreme whiteness."