candidness: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, educated; occasionally used in neutral registers, but the adjective "candid" is far more common.
Quick answer
What does “candidness” mean?
The quality of being open, honest, and straightforward in expression.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality of being open, honest, and straightforward in expression; telling the truth without deception or evasion.
A state of blunt or sometimes uncomfortably direct honesty; an absence of guile or hidden motives, often implying a lack of regard for politeness or convention in the pursuit of truthfulness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic or frequency difference. The word is used in both varieties. 'Frankness' is a more common synonym in both.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in both dialects. May sound slightly more literary or deliberate than 'honesty'.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but perhaps slightly more likely to be encountered in American academic or business writing.
Grammar
How to Use “candidness” in a Sentence
[possessive] candidness (about something)candidness in [doing something]speak with candidnessVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “candidness” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No verb form for 'candidness'. The related verb is 'to be candid' or 'to speak candidly'.]
American English
- [No verb form for 'candidness'. The related verb is 'to be candid' or 'to speak candidly'.]
adverb
British English
- He spoke candidly about the company's financial difficulties.
- She admitted candidly that she had made a mistake.
American English
- I can talk candidly with my manager.
- The report states candidly that the project failed.
adjective
British English
- His candid assessment was refreshing.
- She gave a candid interview about her struggles.
American English
- We had a candid conversation about the budget.
- He was surprisingly candid in his feedback.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in feedback sessions, performance reviews, or strategic discussions to denote valued, unvarnished honesty (e.g., 'We need more candidness in our post-mortem analysis').
Academic
Found in literary criticism, political science, or psychology discussing character traits or rhetorical style (e.g., 'The memoir is notable for its raw candidness').
Everyday
Less common; often replaced by 'honesty' or 'being upfront'. Might be used to comment on surprisingly direct speech (e.g., 'I was taken aback by his candidness about his failures').
Technical
Not typically used in hard sciences. May appear in psychotherapy/ counselling contexts to describe a client's communication.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “candidness”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “candidness”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “candidness”
- Confusing it with 'candour' (UK) / 'candor' (US), which is the more common noun. 'Candidness' is a valid but less frequent alternative.
- Misspelling as 'candideness' or 'candidness'.
- Using it in contexts where 'honesty' or 'sincerity' would be more natural, making speech sound stilted.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a standard, though less common, noun form of 'candid'. The more frequent noun is 'candour' (UK) / 'candor' (US).
'Honesty' is a broad term for not lying. 'Candidness' implies a specific willingness to be open, straightforward, and often blunt in telling the truth, especially when it might be uncomfortable or impolite to do so.
Yes. While it denotes honesty, it can imply a lack of tact or diplomacy. Phrases like 'brutal candidness' highlight how it can be perceived as harsh or hurtful.
For most contexts, 'candor' (US) or 'candour' (UK) is the preferred and more natural-sounding choice. 'Candidness' is perfectly correct but can sound slightly more formal or deliberate.
The quality of being open, honest, and straightforward in expression.
Candidness is usually formal, educated; occasionally used in neutral registers, but the adjective "candid" is far more common. in register.
Candidness: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkændɪdnəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkændədˌnəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No specific idioms. The concept is expressed in phrases like 'to speak with complete candour/candidness' or 'in a moment of candidness'.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CANDIDate in an election who promises to be CANDID (open and honest). CANDIDNESS is the quality that candidate claims to possess.
Conceptual Metaphor
HONESTY IS STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS / OPENNESS (e.g., 'straight talk', 'open book'); DISHONESTY IS DECEPTION / A HIDDEN PATH.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'candidness' LEAST appropriately?