canny

[ kan-ee ]

adjective

, can·ni·er, can·ni·est.

1. careful; cautious; prudent:

   a canny reply.

2. astute; shrewd; knowing; sagacious:

   a canny negotiator.

3. skilled; expert.
4. frugal; thrifty:

   a canny housewife.

5. Scot.
   1. safe to deal with, invest in, or work at (usually used with a negative).
   2. gentle; careful; steady.
   3. snug; cozy; comfortable.
   4. pleasing; attractive.
   5. Archaic. having supernatural or occult powers.

adverb

1. in a canny manner.
2. Scot. carefully; cautiously.

canny

/ ˈkænɪ /

adjective

1. shrewd, esp in business; astute or wary; knowing
2. dialect.
   good or nice: used as a general term of approval
3. lucky or fortunate

adverb

1. dialect.
   quite; rather

   a canny long while

Derived Forms

• ˈcanniness, noun
• ˈcannily, adverb

Other Words From

• canni·ness noun
• over·canny adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of canny¹

First recorded in 1580–90; can ¹ + -y ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of canny¹

C16: from can ¹(in the sense: to know how) + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Schumer’s aw-shucks humblebrags conceal a canny, ambitious pol.

From Time

It’s a canny parody of how Western media has focused on these concerns amid claims that K-pop stars are forbidden to date, have grueling training schedules, and face exacting pressure from their labels and rabid fans alike.

From Time

Despite his lovey-dovey talk and reassurances about the bliss and safety that await her, Bilel is clearly a cunning viper engaged in his own dangerous fraud, thus further marking Profile as a canny, multifaceted snapshot of digital deception.

From The Daily Beast

Other portrayals of nature are rendered fantastic partly by the canny use of color.

From Washington Post

That’s what the canny retail investors spotted when they decided to target GameStop.

From Fortune

Ever canny if uninspiring, John Boehner admitted as much in his recent remarks.

From The Daily Beast

But he was a canny political operator, far less ideological and more coldly pragmatic than proponents liked to admit.

From The Daily Beast

A wavering, but canny Wehrmacht General Dietrich von Choltitz finally surrendered it on August 25.

From The Daily Beast

That is admirable, and Preserve is clever, or at least canny.

From The Daily Beast

All of it is so canny we can only wonder why no one had said these things before.

From The Daily Beast

Keen and canny, they drive a close bargain but, scrupulous and conscientious, fulfil it faithfully.

From Project Gutenberg

He is a steady lad,’ your father said, ‘and a canny goer; and I doubt not he will come safe, and be well liked where he goes.

From Project Gutenberg

After three years, during which he served me very faithfully, I transferred him to a Frenchman, Mr. Canny by name.'

From Project Gutenberg

The august name of Wilkins's was in its essence so exclusive that vast numbers of fairly canny provincials had never heard of it.

From Project Gutenberg

It had been mischievously started by Muriel and smilingly declined by three canny freshmen.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adroit
• astute
• cagey
• cautious
• discreet
• frugal
• ingenious
• intelligent
• judicious
• prudent
• shrewd
• skillful
• sly
• subtle
• wise