candid

adjective

can·​did ˈkan-dəd How to pronounce candid (audio)
1
a
: marked by honest sincere expression
a candid discussion
b
: disposed to criticize severely : blunt
candid critics
c
: indicating or suggesting sincere honesty and absence of deception
her candid face
2
: free from bias, prejudice, or malice : fair
a candid observer
3
: relating to or being photography of subjects acting naturally or spontaneously without being posed
candid photos of the family at play
4
: white
candid flames
candidly adverb
candidness noun

Did you know?

The Many Shades of Candid

It is interesting that candid, which has the original meaning in English of “white,” should have so many colors of meaning. The word comes from the French candide, which is from the Latin candidus (“bright, white”). Candid is not often used to mean “white” these days, and has shed another of its older meanings, “clear, pure.” Many of its current meanings are concerned with forms of honesty and forthrightness. It may refer to the indication or suggestion of sincere honesty (“her candid eyes”), or to something being marked by honest expression (“a candid talk”). However, it also carries the meaning of bluntness (or “disposed to criticize severely”), as well as “free from bias, prejudice, or malice.” The most recent sense it has taken on is in the vocabulary of photography: “relating to or being photography of subjects acting naturally or spontaneously without being posed.”

Choose the Right Synonym for candid

frank, candid, open, plain mean showing willingness to tell what one feels or thinks.

frank stresses lack of shyness or secretiveness or of evasiveness from considerations of tact or expedience.

frank discussions

candid suggests expression marked by sincerity and honesty especially in offering unwelcome criticism or opinion.

a candid appraisal

open implies frankness but suggests more indiscretion than frank and less earnestness than candid.

open in saying what they think

plain suggests outspokenness and freedom from affectation or subtlety in expression.

plain talk

Examples of candid in a Sentence

If Bart Knaggs had been totally candid, he would have told me that when his prospective father-in-law, who was a doctor, had heard that the cancer had moved into my lungs, he said to Bart, "Well, your friend is dead." Lance Armstrong, It's Not About the Bike, (2000) 2001
To be candid, I have wondered whether it is fair to write about a man for whom I cannot help but feel a real distaste. Jill Lepore, Journal of American History, June 2001
There are candid … anecdotes of open-heart surgery. Joyce Carol Oates, New York Times Book Review, 30 Sept. 1990
He was quite candid about his past. She gave us her candid opinion on the matter.
Recent Examples on the Web Collins has always been candid about her health struggles and said the pain from her endometriosis – a condition where the tissue that lines the uterus grows outside of it – was excruciating. Ben Church, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 The candid 25-minute conversation continued thusly, mixing lighthearted moments with deep introspection and vulnerability. Angelique Jackson, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024 The Little Shop of Horrors legend was seen in a rare candid photograph during a rainy day outing in New York City on Wednesday. Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 Keep scrolling Opinion: Nick Saban's candid thoughts on the state of college football are truly worth listening to. USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024 Michael Strahan's 19-year-old daughter, who has been documenting the ups and downs of her health journey in a candid vlog series, shared the 12th installment Wednesday, days after an unexpected second brain surgery. Shania Russell, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024 The royal family has a long history of secrecy about medical information, but the Princess and Prince of Wales have previously been candid about medical matters, including pregnancy and mental health. TIME, 5 Mar. 2024 For many South Florida congregations like New Shiloh, the toolkit has opened the door for faith leaders to have candid conversations about Black history and share their own stories with younger generations. Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 In this candid session, Dixon and Butler addressed the tough realities of entrepreneurship: the importance of rest for fostering creativity, the challenges of fundraising and inevitable rejections, and the harsh truths of scaling a business. Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'candid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French & Latin; French candide, from Latin candidus bright, white, from candēre to shine, glow; akin to Welsh can white, Sanskrit candati it shines

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Time Traveler
The first known use of candid was in 1597

Dictionary Entries Near candid

Cite this Entry

“Candid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/candid. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

candid

adjective
can·​did ˈkan-dəd How to pronounce candid (audio)
1
: marked by or showing sincere honesty : frank
2
: relating to photography of people acting naturally without being posed
candid picture
candidly adverb
candidness noun
Etymology

from French candide "white" and Latin candidus "white, bright," from Latin candēre "to shine, be bright" — related to candidate, candle see Word History at candidate

More from Merriam-Webster on candid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!