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

But Gill said she believed the policy was a "a very poor attempt at trying to offer something to hospitality and quite frankly it will lead to loopholes, fraud, misuse and no genuine good".

From BBC • May 29, 2026

“The loss is significant, and frankly, comes as a significant surprise,” he said.

From Barron's • May 28, 2026

And it seemed like a good one, and it seemed like a good business model, frankly, to have Elsbeth Tascioni, maybe one or two other series regulars, and then bring in all these amazing guests.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

Store employees don’t get paid enough to hustle and, frankly, I don’t want them to.

From Salon • May 22, 2026

The one that mattered, frankly, more than any other.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny