Candor refers to the quality of being open, sincere, and honest.

// During the interview, the comedian spoke with candor about the nervousness she feels every time she takes the stage.

See the entry >

“When Malika Andrews sat down to chat with ESSENCE, she was seated in her car. There was no rush in her voice, just an ease that showed how thoughtful and open she was to the experience. That balance of composure and candor is exactly what’s made her one of the most respected names in sports journalism.” — Diona Ballard, Essence, 7 Aug. 2025

The Latin verb candēre, meaning “to shine or glow,” has illuminated the English lexicon for centuries. It’s given us familiar words such as candle, candid, and candidate, as well as less common terms like candela (a unit of luminous intensity) and candescent (“glowing or dazzling from or as if from great heat”). Candor, another candēre descendant, arrived in English in the 14th century. Its earliest uses referred to brightness or unstained purity and innocence; today, you’re most likely to encounter candor as a word for unquestionably honest expression.