Word
candid
Phoneticscan·did, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkændəd/
UK/kˈændɪd/
Definitions
01honest and direct
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. honest and direct, even when the truth might be difficult or surprising.
adj. straightforward, open, and sincere in expression, often to the point of bluntness.
“The manager gave a candid assessment of the company's financial problems.”
“In a remarkably candid interview, the senator admitted that the policy had failed to achieve its primary objectives.”
Synonyms
02unposed photography
B2 · Upper Intermediate Photography
adj. showing people as they really are, without them posing for the camera.
adj. captured naturally and spontaneously without the subject being posed or prepared.
“I prefer candid photos of my friends rather than formal portraits.”
“The exhibition features candid shots of street life in Paris during the 1950s, capturing fleeting moments of everyday joy.”
Synonyms
03impartial
C1 · Advanced Law Formal
adj. fair and not influenced by personal feelings or opinions.
adj. free from bias, prejudice, or malice; characterized by impartiality.
“We need a candid judge who will look at the facts fairly.”
“The commission was praised for its candid investigation into the allegations of corruption within the local government.”
Antonyms
04a natural photo
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Photography Informal
n. a photograph taken when the person does not know they are being filmed.
n. a photograph taken informally and without the subject's knowledge or preparation.
“She filled the album with candids from the wedding reception.”
“While the professional portraits were elegant, the family much preferred the candids taken by guests during the dinner.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The researchers are candid about the model's limits.” “Phone, click, click, click, check, click again, check, edit (within an inch of its original life) and finally, upload that "candid" picture.” “Rebel Girl, Hanna's memoir, is a raw, candid, and often humorous account of her troubled childhood, her college years, her early adventures in music, her friendships, her marriages, and her battles with Lyme disease.” “In candid interviews, National Guard members speak out about D.C.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin candidus (“white”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
The word in film
Candid Camera · 1948 · Reality-TV
- Directed by:
- Allen Funt
Allen Funt created this long-running hidden-camera series that filmed everyday people without warning, starting on radio in 1947 and moving to television in 1948. The title uses candid for moments that are natural and unposed, catching real surprise instead of acted scenes.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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