noun
Common
transparency
trans-PA-ruhn-see
Transparency (noun) means the quality of being clear enough to see through. Example: “The glass has a high degree of transparency, so you can see clearly through it.”
noun
1
The quality of being clear enough to see through.
"The glass has a high degree of transparency, so you can see clearly through it."
"Clean windows improve the transparency of the glass and let in more light."
"The transparency of the lake water let us see fish swimming below."
2
Openness about actions and decisions, so others can check them.
"Residents asked for greater transparency about how the school chose its new head."
"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 notesIn plain EnglishBeing clear and open — literally see-through, or figuratively honest and easy to scrutinize.
Common pairings
financial transparency
lack of transparency
demand transparency
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Word forms
- Plural
- transparencies
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The glass has a high degree of _____, so you can see clearly through it.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin transparentia, built from transparent plus the noun ending -cy.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for transparency
agency
latency
urgency
potency
decency
regency
currency
tendency
clemency
leniency
frequency
emergency
See all rhymes for transparency →
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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