canny

[ kan-ee ]

adjective

, can·ni·er, can·ni·est.

1. careful; cautious; prudent:

   a canny reply.

2. astute; shrewd; knowing; sagacious:

   a canny negotiator.

3. skilled; expert.
4. frugal; thrifty:

   a canny housewife.

5. Scot.
   1. safe to deal with, invest in, or work at (usually used with a negative).
   2. gentle; careful; steady.
   3. snug; cozy; comfortable.
   4. pleasing; attractive.
   5. Archaic. having supernatural or occult powers.

adverb

1. in a canny manner.
2. Scot. carefully; cautiously.

canny

/ ˈkænɪ /

adjective

1. shrewd, esp in business; astute or wary; knowing
2. dialect.
   good or nice: used as a general term of approval
3. lucky or fortunate

adverb

1. dialect.
   quite; rather

   a canny long while

Derived Forms

• ˈcannily, adverb
• ˈcanniness, noun

Other Words From

• canni·ness noun
• over·canny adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of canny¹

First recorded in 1580–90; can ¹ + -y ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of canny¹

C16: from can ¹(in the sense: to know how) + -y ¹

Example Sentences

For customers, there are plenty of bargains on offer - with £15 covering the cost of a Versace handbag and even a TV for some canny shoppers.

From BBC

That “I Like Movies” is set in the early 2000s is clear from the very beginning, thanks to a number of canny period details.

From New York Times

"My accent has changed so much since starting at uni because i was getting comments if I said a word like 'canny'. They liked to point it out."

From BBC

It never condescends to Sisters Barnes and Paxton and they always have sound rebuttals at the ready; they are also observant, smart and canny.

From Los Angeles Times

Protected by a fortune from his father while playing the part of a canny real estate developer, Trump repeatedly bankrupted himself upward.

From Salon

Related Words

• adroit
• astute
• cagey
• cautious
• discreet
• frugal
• ingenious
• intelligent
• judicious
• prudent
• shrewd
• skillful
• sly
• subtle
• wise