What does candour mean?
Candour is the quality of being open, sincere, and free from pretence or concealment in what one says or writes. A person who speaks with candour tells the truth plainly, even when doing so risks awkwardness, disagreement, or hurt feelings — which is why the word often appears alongside phrases like 'brutal candour' or 'in all candour'. The term carries a broadly positive connotation, suggesting integrity and trustworthiness rather than mere rudeness, though excessive bluntness can shade into tactlessness. Candour is especially valued in contexts such as performance feedback, journalism, political debate, and close relationships, where honest communication matters more than comfortable evasion. The word derives from the Latin 'candor', meaning dazzling whiteness or brightness, and it shares an ancient root with words like 'candle' and 'candid'. It functions as a noun only, and its plural form is simply 'candours', though this is rarely used.
nounThe quality of being open, honest, and frank in speech or expression; the British spelling variant is 'candor'. It implies a willingness to speak plainly, even when the truth may be uncomfortable.
- Openness, frankness, and sincerity in expression; freedom from deceit or bias.
"Her candour about the company's financial troubles earned her both respect and enemies."
"I appreciated his candour when he told me my proposal needed serious rework."
"In her memoir she writes with startling candour about her struggles with grief."
"The judge was praised for the impartiality and candour of her rulings."
Rarely used; candour is almost always treated as an uncountable noun appearing in the singular.
"His letters reveal many instances of striking candour."
Candour comes from the same Latin root as 'candle' — the Romans thought speaking pure, unvarnished truth was as bright and white as burning light.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of candour
Candour entered English in the mid-17th century, borrowed from the Latin 'candor' meaning dazzling whiteness, brightness, or purity. The Latin noun derives from the adjective 'candidus' (white, gleaming), which in turn comes from the verb 'candēre', to glow or shine white. This same root gave English not only 'candid' but also 'candle' (via 'candela') and 'incandescent', so the word's history literally links honest speech with light. Originally it could denote brilliance or purity generally before settling into its modern sense of frankness and sincerity.
How candour is actually used
Formal to neutral register; common in journalism, reviews, and personal essays. In American English the spelling 'candor' predominates; 'candour' is standard in British, Canadian, Australian, and other Commonwealth English.
Easily confused with candour
Despite sharing a distant Latin root related to whiteness and brightness, 'candied' refers to food preserved or coated in sugar, whereas 'candour' means frank honesty in speech.
'Candid' is an adjective describing an honest, straightforward manner or an unposed photograph, while 'candour' is the noun denoting that quality of openness itself.