clarity

noun

clar·​i·​ty ˈkler-ə-tē 

ˈkla-rə-

plural clarities

: the quality of being clear: such as

a

: the quality of being easily understood

The interview has been edited for clarity.

Mr. Darlington writes with wit and clarity.

—Frank J. Prial

b

: the state of having a full, detailed, and orderly mental grasp of something

She remembered that day with surprising clarity.

Employees are looking for some clarity [=understanding] on the company's new policies.

The first step is to ensure you have clarity of purpose. I've been shocked how often people who started an enterprise seem to forget their original purpose.

—Jacob Harold

… juggling so many creative balls at once that it's amazing he has such clarity of thought.

—Hannah Stephenson

"… You suddenly got a moment of clarity and you go, 'What the hell am I doing?' …"

—Ozzy Osbourne

c

: the quality of being easily seen or heard

Those dual 12-inch subwoofers … may produce volume, but the key to a good sound system is clarity.

—Jim Kerr

Displayed as a negative image for greater clarity, the stars look like grains of pepper sprinkled on a white tablecloth.

—Andrew Chaikin

d

: the quality of being easily seen through

the clarity of the crystal glass

a wine with excellent clarity and little sediment

e

: a lack of marks, spots, or blemishes

creams to improve skin clarity

Most diamonds have small imperfections called inclusions. These are usually microscopic. The fewer inclusions, the higher the clarity.

—Richmond (Virginia) Times Dispatch

Synonyms of clarity

• transparency
• brightness
• clearness
• brilliance

Examples of clarity in a Sentence

The essays are edited for clarity.

There is a lack of clarity in many legal documents.

She remembered what happened that day with surprising clarity.

I'm looking for greater clarity about what is expected of our students.

The clarity of the photographs was amazing.

The DVD has excellent clarity of sound.

the clarity of the lake's water

The vitamin is believed to improve skin clarity.

Recent Examples on the Web

When institutions offer ambiguous framing, populists provide clarity. —Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026

Transparency and clarity — not to mention paying on time — are key to getting the vendor community back on board and the merchandise flowing again to stores. —David Moin, Footwear News, 23 Jan. 2026

This conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity. —Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026

Letters are subject to editing for clarity and length. —Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English clarite, from Latin claritat-, claritas, from clarus — see clarify

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clarity

• charity
• parity
• rarity
• verity
• alterity
• asperity
• austerity
• celerity
• dexterity
• disparity
• hilarity
• molarity

Kids Definition

clarity

noun

clar·​i·​ty ˈklar-ət-ē 

: the quality or state of being clear

the clarity of their voices