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Meaning & use

candids

noun, adjective·Advancedinformal

Last updated

UK/ˈkændɪdz/
US/ˈkændɪdz/

“candids” is a form of “candid”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. nounpluralinformal

    Photographs taken without the subjects posing or knowing, so they look natural and unplanned.

    Grammar: Used as a plural noun with 'the': the photographer posted the candids from the wedding.

    Patterns

    • the candids from something
    • take candids
    • shoot candids

    She hired a photographer to take candids during the reception instead of posed group shots.

    The magazine filled two pages with candids of the actors laughing between takes.

    My favorite pictures from the trip are the candids, where nobody is looking at the camera.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Honest and direct in speech, especially about something difficult or sensitive.

    Grammar: This is the plural-looking form of the adjective 'candid' only in the noun sense above; as an adjective, 'candid' has no -s.

    Patterns

    • be candid with someone
    • a candid comment

    The plural '-s' here belongs to the noun; the adjective is simply 'candid', as in 'a candid comment'.

Word forms

singularcandid

Common combinations

take candids
The second photographer was told to take candids while the guests danced.
candids of someone
The blog posted candids of the singer walking her dog.
wedding candids
Their album mixes formal portraits with wedding candids.
a set of candids
He uploaded a set of candids from the backstage area.

Synonyms and how they differ

snapshots
General word for quick, informal photos; snapshots can be posed, while candids by definition are not.
unposed photos
A plain descriptive phrase rather than a set term, but it means the same thing.

Opposites

posed shotsportraits

Word family

candid adjective
Honest and direct; also used of unposed photographs.
candidly adverb
In an honest, direct way: he spoke candidly about the failure.
candor noun
Openness and honesty in what you say.

Commonly confused: candids or candidates? candids or candied?

candids vs candidates

People being considered for a job or election. It sounds almost the same as 'candids' but has a completely different meaning.

candids vs candied

Coated in sugar, as in candied fruit. A spelling mix-up is easy because both words start with 'cand-'.

Practice

A wedding photographer says: 'I'll spend the afternoon shooting candids.' What will the photos show?

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