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

But Stern, despite some initially traditional documentary trappings, is weaving something a bit more canny here. —Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2025

Gulman is a canny, affable performer who is more than capable of entertaining an audience for two hours. —Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025

The brothers were canny self-promoters—they’d been salesmen, after all. —Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025

In France, come thirsty as there’s a great new spot in an underserved wine region and One&Only, that benchmark for luxe worldwide, will make its foray stateside in an unexpected location (though one that’s a typically canny choice). —Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 11 Jan. 2025

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