candour = the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech candidness, forthrightness, frankness, candor, directness honestness, honesty - the quality of being honest ingenuousness - openly straightforward or frank 2. candour = the ability to make judgments free from discrimination or dishonesty candor, fair-mindedness, fairness impartiality, nonpartisanship - an inclination to weigh both views or opinions equally Candour and directness mean the same thing. Your sentence means that the people saying this appreciate your honest and forthright views. It is often said by employers interviewing job candidates.