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noun Common

transparency

trans-PA-ruhn-see

Transparency (noun) means the quality of being clear enough to see through. Example: “The transparency of the lake water let us see fish swimming below.”

noun
1
The quality of being clear enough to see through.
"The transparency of the lake water let us see fish swimming below."
2
Openness about actions and decisions, so others can check them.
"Voters demanded more transparency from the council over how the budget was spent."
"The company improved transparency by publishing its supplier list."

How to Use Transparency

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBeing clear and open — literally see-through, or figuratively honest and easy to scrutinize.

Common pairings
financial transparency lack of transparency demand transparency

Word Forms

transparencies plural

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Test yourself on “transparency” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ of the lake water let us see fish swimming below.

Etymology

From Medieval Latin transparentia, built from transparent plus the noun ending -cy.

Origin: Medieval Latin

openness clarity candor frankness clearness forthrightness

Related Words

Rhymes for transparency

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “transparency” mean?

The word “transparency” means the quality of being clear enough to see through. In plain terms, being clear and open — literally see-through, or figuratively honest and easy to scrutinize.

How do you pronounce “transparency”?

“Transparency” is pronounced trans-PA-ruhn-see (/tɹænsˈpæɹənsi/ in IPA).

How do you use “transparency” in a sentence?

Here is “transparency” used in a sentence: “The transparency of the lake water let us see fish swimming below.”

What part of speech is “transparency”?

“Transparency” is a noun.

Where does the word “transparency” come from?

The word “transparency” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin transparentia, built from transparent plus the noun ending -cy.

Is “transparency” a common word?

“Transparency” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “transparency” have?

“Transparency” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the quality of being clear enough to see through.

What is the difference between transparency and translucency?

Transparency is the quality of being clear enough to see through completely, like plain glass. Translucency means letting light pass through without giving a clear view of what is behind, like frosted glass.

What is the difference between transparency and accountability?

Transparency is openness about actions and decisions so that others can check them. Accountability goes further, meaning being answerable and facing consequences for those actions.

What is the opposite of transparency?

In the openness sense, opposites include secrecy and concealment. In the physical sense, the opposite is opacity, the quality of not letting light or sight pass through.

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