candour: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal
Quick answer
What does “candour” mean?
The quality of being open, honest, and sincere in expression.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality of being open, honest, and sincere in expression; the absence of deception or evasiveness.
An instance or expression of such frankness; a statement or attitude characterised by a willingness to speak the truth even when it is difficult or unwelcome. Implies transparency and straightforwardness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'candour' is the standard British form. The American spelling is 'candor' (without 'u').
Connotations
No significant difference in connotation beyond spelling.
Frequency
Equally formal and relatively uncommon in everyday speech in both varieties. More frequent in written, literary, or professional discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “candour” in a Sentence
[Verb + with + ~] to speak with candour[Adjective + ~] disarming candour[~ + Preposition] candour about something[~ + that clause] his candour that the project was failingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “candour” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- He spoke candidly about the company's financial troubles.
American English
- She answered candidly during the deposition.
adjective
British English
- His candid assessment was appreciated.
- She gave a candid interview about the challenges.
American English
- His candid assessment was appreciated.
- She gave a candid interview about the challenges.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in management or HR contexts to discuss feedback culture, e.g., 'We encourage a culture of candour in performance reviews.'
Academic
Appears in political science, ethics, and psychology discussing communication, transparency, or virtue.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used to comment on someone's unexpectedly frank statement.
Technical
Not typically a technical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “candour”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “candour”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “candour”
- Misspelling as 'candor' in UK contexts or 'candour' in US contexts. Confusing it with 'candle' or 'candidacy'. Using it in overly casual contexts where 'honesty' would suffice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Candour is a subset of honesty. Honesty is the broad quality of being truthful. Candour specifically refers to a willingness to be open and frank in speech, especially about unpleasant truths, without evasion.
It is overwhelmingly positive, implying admirable integrity. However, when modified by 'brutal' or 'harsh', it can describe honesty that is delivered without sensitivity.
It is quite formal. In informal contexts, people are more likely to say 'honesty', 'frankness', or phrases like 'being straight' or 'telling it like it is'.
The adjective is 'candid'. For example, 'a candid conversation'.
The quality of being open, honest, and sincere in expression.
Candour: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkændə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkændər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Brutal honesty/candour (a very direct, potentially harsh form of frankness)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CANDid camera' – where people are caught being their true, unguarded selves. 'Candour' is the quality of being that honest.
Conceptual Metaphor
HONESTY IS BRIGHTNESS / CLARITY (related to 'candid' from Latin 'candidus' meaning white, bright, pure).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'candour' in the sentence: 'His disarming candour made the difficult news easier to accept.'?