canny

1 of 2

adjective

can·​ny ˈka-nē How to pronounce canny (audio)
cannier; canniest
1
: clever, shrewd
a canny lawyer
also : prudent
canny investments
2
chiefly Scotland
a
b
: quiet, snug
then canny, in some cozy place, they close the dayRobert Burns
cannily adverb
canniness noun

canny

2 of 2

adverb

Scotland
: in a canny manner : carefully

Examples of canny in a Sentence

Adjective a canny card player, good at psyching out his opponents warm and canny under the woolen bedcovers, we didn't mind the chilly Scottish nights
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
The lower section featured a fanning hem in stiff and immaculately white fabric, resulting in a canny visual pun that translated the visual register of suiting onto a classic ballgown (and required a fleet of attendants to carry it onto the carpet unscathed). Mahoro Seward, Vogue, 6 May 2025 But Moroney is canny enough to understand that country identity can be a selling point, even or especially to fans with other interests. Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025 In Babygirl, the girlboss isn’t being vilified or even critiqued, but explored with a canny interest. Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025 Much has been made of his Nikes, and the Church’s decision to display him this way has always struck me as a canny bit of image-making. Emily Harnett, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for canny

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

originally Scots & regional northern English, going back to early Scots, "free from risk, sagacious, prudent, cautious," probably from can "ability" (noun derivative of can can entry 1) + -y -y entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1786, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of canny was in 1596

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Cite this Entry

“Canny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canny. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

canny

adjective
can·​ny
ˈkan-ē
cannier; canniest
: watchful of one's own interest
cannily
ˈkan-ᵊl-ē
adverb
canniness
ˈkan-ē-nəs
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on canny

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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