diaphanous

adjective

di·​aph·​a·​nous dī-ˈa-fə-nəs 

1

: characterized by such fineness of texture as to permit seeing through

diaphanous fabrics

a diaphanous curtain

2

: characterized by extreme delicacy of form : ethereal

painted diaphanous landscapes

3

: insubstantial, vague

had only a diaphanous hope of success

diaphanously adverb

diaphanousness noun

Did you know?

What do the words diaphanous, epiphany, fancy, phenomenon, sycophant, emphasis, and phase all have in common? The Greek word phaínein shows more clearly in some of these words than in others, but it underlies all of them. The groundwork for diaphanous was laid when phaínein (meaning "to bring to light, cause to appear") was combined with the prefix dia- (meaning "through"). From that pairing came the Greek diaphanḗs ("transparent"), parent of the Medieval Latin diaphanus, which is the direct ancestor of the English word.

Synonyms of diaphanous

• transparent
• sheer
• translucent

Examples of diaphanous in a Sentence

the bride wore a diaphanous veil

Recent Examples on the Web

Styling her light brown hair in a romantic updo with a coronet braid and curly tendrils framing her face, the birthday girl leaned into a regency-era aesthetic with a diaphanous floor-length coat that could be straight out of Bridgerton. —Lara Walsh, InStyle, 23 Feb. 2026

On the Ann Demeulemeester runway line-up from which Lipa’s jacket was plucked, the military uniform piece was styled with a diaphanous cream slip dress and the same combat boots. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026

Tapped by an artist to adapt a 1907 neo-Gothic Harlem rectory into a home and studio, meanwhile, GRT linked a series of double-height spaces with a diaphanous staircase of perforated steel, connecting indoors and out via streamlined Gothic-style windows. —The Editors Of Ad, Architectural Digest, 3 Dec. 2025

Some of her signature wire sculptures—diaphanous, undulating forms, like chain-mail invertebrates—were made with the help of her sons and daughters. —Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

extension with -ous of Medieval Latin diafanus, diaphanus, borrowed from Greek diaphanḗs "transparent, manifest, conspicuous," adjective derivative from the stem of diaphaínein "to let be seen through," diaphaínesthai "to show through, be seen through," from dia- dia- + phaínein (active voice) "to bring to light, cause to appear," and phaínesthai (middle voice) "to become visible, come to light, appear" — more at fantasy entry 1

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!