candy

1 of 2

noun

can·​dy ˈkan-dē How to pronounce candy (audio)
plural candies
1
: crystallized sugar formed by boiling down sugar syrup
2
a
: a confection made with sugar and often flavoring and filling
b
: a piece of such confection
3
: something that is pleasant or appealing in a light or frivolous way
visual candy
candy adjective

candy

2 of 2

verb

candied; candying

transitive verb

1
: to encrust in or coat with sugar
specifically : to cook (something, such as fruit or fruit peel) in a heavy syrup until glazed
2
: to make attractive : sweeten
candying up the duke's reputation
3
: to crystallize into sugar

intransitive verb

: to become coated or encrusted with sugar crystals : become crystallized into sugar

Examples of candy in a Sentence

Noun The cough syrup tastes like candy. Verb the publisher hopes the flashy cover will candy up the novel for impulse buyers
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Laurelhurst Go to 43rd Street Northeast to find houses that are decked out for Halloween and generous with candy. Melissa Santos, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024 Instead of a chocolate or a candy, each day featured a dram, typically one ounce or so, of a single malt from a Scottish distillery. Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
Verb
Fifth course: Giant cream puff, sugared blackberries, caramel and candied pecans. Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 14 Oct. 2024 With water, candied sweetness, old oak and mocha are present. Chris Perugini, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for candy 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'candy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sugre candy, partial translation of Middle French sucre candi, from Old French sucre sugar + Arabic qandī candied, from qand crystallized sugar

First Known Use

Noun

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1537, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of candy was circa 1537

Dictionary Entries Near candy

Cite this Entry

“Candy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/candy. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

candy

1 of 2 noun
can·​dy ˈkan-dē How to pronounce candy (audio)
plural candies
: a sweet made of sugar often with flavoring and filling

candy

2 of 2 verb
candied; candying
: to coat or become coated with sugar
especially : to cook (fruit or fruit peel) in sugar syrup

More from Merriam-Webster on candy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!