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candy cane

American  
[kan-dee keyn] / ˈkæn di ˌkeɪn /

noun

candy canes plural
  1. a stick of hard candy with a curve at one end, usually peppermint-flavored with red and white stripes.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of candy cane

First recorded in 1865–70

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.

I’ll start here: I’m not sure what’s up with the red-striped home shirts—I know it’s supposed to resemble a waving U.S. flag, but all I see is a Christmas candy cane.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

When I got the assignment, I was immediately excited and had this image in my head of placing them inside a colorful candy cane circus.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025

A sprinkling of people tentatively used to approach its nondescript door under an arresting sign, “Color Beauty Supply,” shaped almost like a candy cane.

From New York Times • Apr. 21, 2023

She then paints a swirl on one side of a cold glass, sprinkles some crushed-up candy cane on it, and then places it in the fridge until needed.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 19, 2022

Because of the log cabin interior and maroon accents, he looks like a candy cane in the middle of a lumberyard with his red-and-white-striped shirt and white pants.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy

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