canny

1 of 2

adjective

can·​ny ˈka-nē 

cannier; canniest

1

: clever, shrewd

a canny lawyer

also : prudent

canny investments

2

chiefly Scotland

a

: careful, steady

also : restrained

b

: quiet, snug

then canny, in some cozy place, they close the day

—Robert Burns

cannily

ˈka-nə-lē 

adverb

canniness

ˈka-nē-nəs 

noun

canny

2 of 2

adverb

Scotland

: in a canny manner : carefully

Synonyms

Adjective

• astute
• clear-eyed
• clear-sighted
• hard-boiled
• hardheaded
• heady
• knowing
• savvy
• sharp
• sharp-witted
• shrewd
• smart

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

Adjective

In Babygirl, the girlboss isn’t being vilified or even critiqued, but explored with a canny interest. —Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 26 Dec. 2024

Copy Facebook Pinterest Shoulder seasons like spring offer an affordable way to combine better hotel rates and fewer crowds with high-season weather, a canny work-around for any savvy traveler. —Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 23 Dec. 2024

Massa is a debonair man of fifty-two, known as a canny political operator. —Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024

The ability to attract and retain government funds, and the canny cultivation of political relationships, are essential to any successful presidency. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024

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

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