candid, warrant, consensus, scrutinize, postulate: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Advanced Plus set 28. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. candid · adjective/ˈkændɪd/

   truthful and straightforward; frank

   She gave a candid answer during the interview about her past experiences.

   Synonyms: honest, open, straightforward

   Origin: from Latin 'candidus' meaning 'white, shining, bright', later associated with 'truthfulness'

2. warrant · noun/ˈwɔːrənt/

   an official document authorizing a specific action, especially a search or arrest

   The police had a search warrant to look inside the house.

   Synonyms: authorization

   Origin: Middle English 'warant', from Old French 'garant', meaning 'warrant, protector'

3. consensus · noun/kənˈsɛn.səs/

   general agreement among a group or collective

   After a long discussion, the team reached a consensus on the best way to solve the problem.

   Synonyms: agreement, unity, accord

   Origin: Latin consensus, meaning 'agreement' or 'accord'.

4. scrutinize · verb/ˈskrutəˌnaɪz/

   to examine closely and carefully

   The teacher will scrutinize the students' homework to check for mistakes.

   Synonyms: examine, inspect, analyze

   Origin: from Latin 'scrutinare', meaning 'to search, examine closely', from 'scrutinium', meaning 'a search, inquiry'.

5. postulate · noun/ˈpɑːstʃəˌleɪt/

   a statement assumed to be true as a basis for reasoning or argument

   In math class, we learned a postulate that says the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

   Synonyms: assumption, premise

   Origin: from Latin 'postulatum', meaning 'something demanded or required'