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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Not sure who the porcine pop star is? Percy Pig is one of the United Kingdom’s most popular candies, a berry and grape flavored gummy that reportedly sells more than 20 million bags a year in the UK — about 38 bags a minute, according to All Recipes. Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2025 District 148 opposition Two people spoke during the public comment period Tuesday, with one person supporting the board and even passing out candy to the table, and the other denouncing the salary increase. Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
The whisky offers a smooth profile with hints of cooked cereal/malt, toffee sweetness, honey, candied citrus zest and light peat smoke. Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025 Desserts are similarly imaginative, offering up the Lost Ark Shortbread, a vanilla, caramel, candied lemon, and almond crumble fit for Indiana Jones, and a sweet blueberry, vanilla, and Timut berry (an ingredient from Nepal similar to Sichuan berries) inspired by Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for candy

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Candy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/candy. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

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

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