candor

noun

can·​dor ˈkan-dər How to pronounce candor (audio)
-ˌdȯr
1
: unreserved, honest, or sincere expression : forthrightness
the candor with which he acknowledged a weakness in his own caseAldous Huxley
2
: freedom from prejudice or malice : fairness
… a heavy accusation … from a gentleman of your talents, liberality, and candor.Noah Webster
3
a
literary : brightness, brilliance
the sun poured with a more golden candorChristoper Morley
b
obsolete : unstained purity
4
archaic : kindliness

Did you know?

Candor comes from Latin candēre, meaning "to shine or glow." That origin is reflected in the word's early uses referring to brightness or unstained purity and innocence, which are the sources of today's familiar use of candor for unquestionably honest expression.

Did you know?

Candor: It Can Be Refreshing

Candor, related to the adjective candid, refers to straightforward honesty or frankness in speech or expression. The fact that it is frequently preceded by the adjective refreshing suggests that it is often unexpected, a shift from guarded or euphemistic language:

This is perhaps the busiest and craziest time of the year for device-case maker Brian Holmes, and he told me today with refreshing candor that “I am about to lose my mind.”
Julio Ojeda-Zapata, St. Paul Pioneer Press, 9 Sept. 2016

They are openly afraid of starting a family and making mistakes, and this refreshing candor between characters is what makes the show one of the best rom-coms on TV.
Julia Edelman, People, 8 Apr. 2016

Examples of candor in a Sentence

But a more subtle, and perhaps the most powerful, quality in the Senator's arsenal of attractions is an unrelenting candor that verges on self-reproach … Joe Klein, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2002
People are human; they are fallible. I concede with painful candor and a heavy heart that the adage applies to me and to my generation of American leadership regarding Vietnam. Robert S. McNamara, In Retrospect, 1995
… thoughtful critics lamented what they designated Roosevelt's deviousness, his lack of candor Doris Kearns Goodwin, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 1994
One hardly knows which to admire more, the candor of the author or the forbearance of his wife and his buddy, who somehow manage to refrain from cuffing him smartly upside the head. Jay McInerney, New York Times Book Review, 31 Mar. 1991
She spoke with candor about racism. I was impressed by the candor of his statement.
Recent Examples on the Web As Kevin Chong points out with candor and humor, old dysfunctions die hard. Peter Rubin, Longreads, 4 Jan. 2024 Embracing Radical Candor Radical candor is a cornerstone of our core values and provides a mechanism for effective feedback. Colleen Werner, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 He’s made the jobs of reporters easier with his candor. Kelsey Conway, The Enquirer, 5 Jan. 2024 Billy Porter is bringing his characteristic candor to his memories of starring in Grease. Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 20 Nov. 2023 OpenAI declined to answer questions on what Altman’s alleged lack of candor was about. Matt O'Brien, Fortune, 18 Nov. 2023 Even at the time, viewers on both sides of the political spectrum were shocked by the show’s candor. Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2023 Her teardrop voice and audacious candor imagine Lana by way of Lucinda while sounding Texas to the bone. Pitchfork, 6 Dec. 2023 And in recent years, her costars have also spoken out in support of her candor. Brittany Talarico, Peoplemag, 16 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'candor.' 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 candeur, from Latin candor, from candēre — more at candid

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Time Traveler
The first known use of candor was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near candor

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

candor

noun
can·​dor ˈkan-dər How to pronounce candor (audio)
-dȯ(ə)r
: sincere and honest expression : frankness

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