Opacity: meaning, definitions and examples

When something is not transparent or hard to see through. This term is often used in medical imaging, art, and web design to describe how little light passes through an object.

• The opacity of the glass blocks prevents anyone from seeing inside.
• The X-ray showed areas of increased opacity in the lungs.

When an object allows light to pass through fully, making it see-through. This term is important in fields like glass manufacturing, politics, and business.

• The transparency of the water made the coral reef visible from above.
• The company prides itself on its transparency with stakeholders.

When an object allows light to pass through but not detailed shapes. It's often used in contexts where partial light transmission is relevant, such as in materials science and product descriptions.

• The bathroom windows are made of frosted glass for translucency and privacy.
• The artist chose a medium with high translucency for the stained glass.

When referring to how clear or easy to understand something is. This word is commonly used in communication, vision, and gemology.

• Her speech was praised for its clarity.
• The clarity of the diamond makes it especially valuable.

Opacity is often used when discussing the clarity or transparency of materials such as glass or liquids. It describes how much light is blocked or passed through.

• The opacity of the stained glass window gave a dreamlike quality to the room.
• The opacity of the liquid made it difficult to see what was at the bottom of the bottle.

Impenetrability conveys the idea of something that cannot be passed through or penetrated. It is often used in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

• The fortress's walls were known for their impenetrability.
• His impenetrability made it hard for others to understand his true feelings.

Opaqueness is synonymous with opacity and is used to describe the quality of not being see-through or clear. It can also be used metaphorically to describe situations or statements that are difficult to understand.

• The opaqueness of the fog made driving quite challenging.
• The opaqueness of his answer left everyone confused.

Density refers to the mass per unit volume of a substance and is often used in scientific, physical, and engineering contexts.

• The density of the liquid was measured at 1 gram per cubic centimeter.
• Iron has a higher density than aluminum.

Use when discussing the quality of being difficult to see through or the lack of transparency in a literal or metaphorical sense.

• The opacity of the glass makes it perfect for privacy windows.
• His speech was filled with so much jargon that it had an unwelcome opacity.

Use when talking about something that is not well-known or is difficult to understand, often implying a sense of being hidden or not prominent.

• The obscureness of the author's early works means they are rarely discussed.
• Due to the obscureness of the terms, many students struggled with the text.

Use when referring to something that is not known or not understood, often creating a sense of intrigue or curiosity.

• The disappearance of the ancient civilization remains a mystery.
• She was a woman of mystery, always keeping people guessing.

Use when referring to something that has more than one possible meaning or is unclear because of its complexity.

• The ambiguity in her statement left everyone confused.
• Legal documents are often rewritten to remove any ambiguity.