candy
8 synonyms and 0 antonyms for candy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Sweet confectionery made mainly from sugar, often flavored with chocolate, fruit, or nuts.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use candy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French sucre candi, "candied sugar," ultimately traced back through Arabic and Persian to a Sanskrit word for a piece of sugar.
Full origin of candy →Frequently asked questions
What does “candy” mean?
The word “candy” means sweet confectionery made mainly from sugar, often flavored with chocolate, fruit, or nuts. In plain terms, sweets, or to coat something in sugar.
How do you pronounce “candy”?
“Candy” is pronounced KAN-dee (/ˈkæn.di/ in IPA).
How do you use “candy” in a sentence?
Here is “candy” used in a sentence: “The kids traded candy from their trick-or-treat bags.”
What is another word for “candy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “candy” include confectionery, sweets, lollies and sugar candy.
What part of speech is “candy”?
Depending on how it is used, “candy” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “candy” come from?
The word “candy” comes from Old French. From Old French sucre candi, "candied sugar," ultimately traced back through Arabic and Persian to a Sanskrit word for a piece of sugar.
Is “candy” a common word?
“Candy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “candy” have?
“Candy” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: sweet confectionery made mainly from sugar, often flavored with chocolate, fruit, or nuts.
What is the difference between "candy" and "chocolate"?
Candy is a broad term for sweet confectionery made mainly from sugar, and it can include hard sweets, gummies, and chocolate. Chocolate is one specific type of candy made from cacao, so all chocolate can be called candy but not all candy is chocolate.
Is "candy" used in British or American English?
Candy is the standard word in American English, while British English usually says "sweets." A British speaker might call a single item a sweet, whereas an American would call it a piece of candy.
Is "candy" countable or uncountable?
Candy is usually uncountable when referring to sweets in general, as in "too much candy." To count individual pieces, English speakers say "a piece of candy" or "some candies" rather than "a candy."