English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun A1 Beginner Common

candy

KAN-dee

Candy (noun) means sweet confectionery made mainly from sugar, often flavored with chocolate, fruit, or nuts. Example: “The kids traded candy from their trick-or-treat bags.”

noun
1
Sweet confectionery made mainly from sugar, often flavored with chocolate, fruit, or nuts.
"The kids traded candy from their trick-or-treat bags."
"He kept a bowl of candy on his desk for visitors."
2
Slang for crack cocaine.
"The film depicted the devastating effects of "candy" on the neighborhood."
verb
1
To coat or cook something in sugar syrup until it hardens.
"She candied the orange peel for the cake decoration."

How to Use Candy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSweets, or to coat something in sugar.

UK vs US

Americans say "candy" for what the British usually call "sweets."

Common pairings
piece of candy candy store candied fruit

Word Forms

candied past tense, candies plural, candies plural, candies singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “candy” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The kids traded _____ from their trick-or-treat bags.

Etymology

From Old French sucre candi, "candied sugar," ultimately traced back through Arabic and Persian to a Sanskrit word for a piece of sugar.

Origin: Old French

Related Words

Rhymes for candy

See all rhymes for 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.

People Also Searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial