frankly

American  

[frangk-lee] / ˈfræŋk li /

adverb

1. in a frank manner; freely; candidly; openly; plainly.

   He presented his arguments frankly and objectively.

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frankly British  

/ ˈfræŋklɪ /

adverb

1. (sentence modifier) in truth; to be honest

   frankly, I can't bear him

2. in a frank manner

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Etymology

Origin of frankly

First recorded in 1530–40; frank ¹ + -ly

Explanation

To say something frankly is to be completely honest and straightforward. It's unusual when a politician answers reporters' questions frankly. When someone's frank, they are plainspoken and truthful, and when you communicate frankly, your words have this quality. Telling people frankly that you need their help, or expressing criticism frankly but kindly can be difficult at times, but it's something to strive for. Frank and frankly have a Medieval Latin root, francus, "free, or at liberty."

Example Sentences

“Quite frankly, Californians are, by and large, looking for viable alternatives. They’re looking towards the California Republican Party,” Chairwoman Corrin Rankin told reporters.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

He added that extreme declines like those seen Thursday, “or frankly over the last three months, are not based on investors selectively applying AI risk on a company-by-company basis.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

"The Israelis... have actually offered to be, frankly, to check themselves a little bit in Lebanon, because they want to make sure that our negotiation is successful," Vance said.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

And frankly, the game was so insipid that it needed something – or someone – to liven it up.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

In this life and her first, she despised it and frankly didn’t think she was asking for all that much.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny