Candid
adj, noun ·2 syllables ·Common ·High school level
Definitions
- 1 A spontaneous or unposed photograph.
"His portraits looked stiff and formal but his candids showed life being lived."
- 1 Impartial and free from prejudice.
"He knew not where to look for faithful advice, efficient aid, or candid judgement."
- 2 Straightforward, open and sincere.
"“I know you do; and it is that which makes the wonder. With your good sense, to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of others! Affectation of candour is common enough;—one meets with it everywhere. But to be candid without ostentation or design—to take the good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad—belongs to you alone.[…]”"
- 3 Not posed or rehearsed.
"Will the introduction of supplementary flash or flood intrude on a candid picture situation or ruin the mood?"
- 4 Bright; white. obsolete
"The Box receives all Black, but, pour'd from thence, / The Stones came candid forth; the Hue of Innocence."
- 1 characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion wordnet
- 2 openly straightforward and direct without reserve or secretiveness wordnet
- 3 informal or natural; especially caught off guard or unprepared wordnet
Antonyms
All antonymsExample
More examples"Roy is secretive and Ted is candid."
Etymology
From Latin candidus (“white”).
Related phrases
More for "candid"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.