adj
canny
KA-nee
adj
1
Shrewd and clever, especially in practical or business matters.
"She's a canny negotiator who always gets a good price."
"His canny investment decisions paid off over the years."
2
British dialect, especially Northern English and Scots: pleasant, nice, or considerable.
"That was a canny bit of work, lad."
How to Use Canny
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCleverly practical and shrewd — good at spotting the smart move.
Common pairings
canny investor
canny move
canny operator
Word Forms
cannier comparative, cannier comparative, Cannys plural, canniest superlative, canniest superlative
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She's a _____ negotiator who always gets a good price.
Etymology
From Northern English dialect, built on "can" in the old sense "to know how to," related to Old English cunnan.