candor

noun

can·​dor ˈkan-dər 

-ˌdȯr

1

: unreserved, honest, or sincere expression : forthrightness

the candor with which he acknowledged a weakness in his own case

—Aldous 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 candor

—Christoper 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

Synonyms

• bluntness
• candidness
• directness
• forthrightness
• frankness
• honesty
• openheartedness
• openness
• outspokenness
• plainness
• plainspokenness
• plumpness
• straightforwardness
• unguardedness
• unreserve
• unreservedness

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

Stacy’s candor about his drinking and drug use is refreshing. —John Norris, Billboard, 15 May 2025

Nikki Glaser applauds Joan’s candor about aging and plastic surgery, and Aubrey Plaza retires Joan’s not-so-politically-correct jokes. —Erin Jensen, USA Today, 14 May 2025

Her fearless performance—and subsequent media appearances—showcased a new generation of comedic candor. —Okla Jones, Essence, 30 Apr. 2025

For instance, the commission found that private comments and a public court filing by Shore sought to downplay the reasons for his prior discipline, and thus Shore lacked candor in violation of one of the canons of the California Code of Judicial Ethics. —Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French & Latin; French candeur, from Latin candor, from candēre — more at candid entry 1

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for candor

• brander
• dander
• gander
• grander
• hander
• laender
• lander
• pander
• sander
• slander
• stander
• zander

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Kids Definition

candor

noun

can·​dor ˈkan-dər 

-dȯ(ə)r

: sincere and honest expression : frankness