Definition of CANDID (original) (raw)
1
a
: marked by honest sincere expression
c
: indicating or suggesting sincere honesty and absence of deception
3
: relating to or being photography of one or more subjects acting naturally or spontaneously without being posed
candid photos of the family at play
: a photograph of one or more subjects acting naturally or spontaneously without being posed : a candid photograph
If you are taking candids, it can be hard to capture the one split-second where the baby cracks a smile.—
Michael Hession
The Chicago native's fascinating shots capture subjects in both portraits and candids that evoke Black joy.—New York Amsterdam News
"Lunch with my girl," Reese captioned this cute candid of the two enjoying delicious-looking salads.—Mike Vulpo
Did you know?
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.”
Synonyms
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.
candid suggests expression marked by sincerity and honesty especially in offering unwelcome criticism or opinion.
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.
Examples of candid in a Sentence
Adjective
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These images, originally captured by Google Maps' street-view cars, are often candid snapshots that offer glimpses into everyday moments in the posters' pasts. —Tabitha Parent, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024 Melissa Desmarais, who is pregnant with her second baby, posted a public service announcement on Instagram to give men, in particular, a tip on how to help their wives and girlfriends through the wildness of pregnancy: by taking candid photos and videos. —Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024 As his excellent new book, How to Disappear: A Portrait of Radiohead, reveals, bassist Colin Greenwood has been snapping candid, lovely photographs of his bandmates since the early 2000s — in the studio, in dressing rooms, and even, somehow, onstage during the middle of their concerts. —Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 20 Dec. 2024 In November, Prince William got candid about the family's rough year during an interview with reporters in Cape Town, South Africa. —Elizabeth Stanton, Fox News, 19 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for candid 
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
French & Latin; French candide, from Latin candidus bright, white, from candēre to shine, glow; akin to Welsh can white, Sanskrit candati it shines
Noun
derivative of candid entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
1597, in the meaning defined at sense 4
Noun
1936, in the meaning defined above
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 31 Dec. 2024.
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Last Updated: 25 Dec 2024 - Updated example sentences
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