canny

1 of 2

adjective

can·​ny ˈka-nē 

cannier; canniest

1

: clever, shrewd

a canny lawyer

also : prudent

canny investments

2

chiefly Scotland

a

: careful, steady

also : restrained

b

: quiet, snug

A canny pub, serving decent food at a decent price …

—Brian Severs

cannily

ˈka-nə-lē 

adverb

canniness

ˈka-nē-nəs 

noun

canny

2 of 2

adverb

Scotland

: in a canny manner : carefully

Synonyms of canny

Adjective

• smart
• astute
• shrewd
• savvy

Examples of canny in a Sentence

Adjective

a canny card player, good at psyching out his opponents

warm and canny under the woolen bedcovers, we didn't mind the chilly Scottish nights

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

First-time Nolan players factored into canny casting decisions like Jon Bernthal as Menelaus, Leguizamo as Eumaeus, and Charlize Theron as Calypso. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 24 July 2026

Collins is a canny politician who won her last campaign by nine points. — Philip Elliott, Time, 23 July 2026

And sometimes American Gangster does sound more like a canny career move than an artistic statement, with Jay leaning on cocaine puns like Clipse or Jeezy instead of sharing secrets of his hustling days. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 14 July 2026

For those of us who weren’t there and who aren’t fans, for whom Taylor Swift is either a fascinating celebrity or just one more canny billionaire with a private jet addiction, this weekend put her on a tricky knife’s edge of opinion. — Choire Sicha, CNN Money, 5 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

originally Scots & regional northern English, going back to early Scots, "free from risk, sagacious, prudent, cautious," probably from can "ability" (noun derivative of can can entry 1) + -y -y entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1786, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for canny

• cranny
• fanny
• grannie
• granny
• nannie
• nanny
• tympani
• uncanny

Kids Definition

canny

adjective

can·​ny

ˈkan-ē

cannier; canniest

: watchful of one's own interest

cannily

ˈkan-ᵊl-ē

adverb

canniness

ˈkan-ē-nəs

noun