opacity

noun

opac·​i·​ty ō-ˈpa-sə-tē How to pronounce opacity (audio)
plural opacities
1
a
: obscurity of sense : unintelligibility
b
: the quality or state of being mentally obtuse : dullness
2
: the quality or state of a body that makes it impervious to the rays of light
broadly : the relative capacity of matter to obstruct the transmission of radiant energy
3
: an opaque spot in a normally transparent structure (such as the lens of the eye)

Examples of opacity in a Sentence

the opacity of the glass Critics have noted the opacity of her writing style.
Recent Examples on the Web The freckles are designed to fade and heal with less opacity than traditional tattoo ink. David Oliver, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2024 Rather, opacity still retains its currency as an important ingredient to a good deal. Alexandra Bregman, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024 The opacity is partly due to the fact that deciding who to let go is a complicated calculus. Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 6 Feb. 2024 This financial opacity has hurt the LDS church before. Samuel Brunson, The Conversation, 8 Nov. 2023 Finally, our testers rated each legging on a scale of 1 to 5 for material, opacity, fit, hold, durability, and value. Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 6 Feb. 2024 After several reporters recently voiced concerns about ESA's opacity, Aschbacher outlined several steps in this area, including more access to ESA officials for journalists and the public release of more ESA documents. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 2 Aug. 2023 The opacity of the space, combined with the increasing number of companies offering the loans, compounds risk. Cora Lewis, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Dec. 2023 The material continued to dazzle with its opacity, which hid brightly colored undergarments during wear. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 18 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'opacity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French opacité shadiness, from Latin opacitat-, opacitas, from opacus shaded, dark

First Known Use

1575, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of opacity was in 1575

Dictionary Entries Near opacity

Cite this Entry

“Opacity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opacity. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

opacity

noun
opac·​i·​ty ō-ˈpas-ət-ē How to pronounce opacity (audio)
plural opacities
: the quality or state of being opaque

Medical Definition

opacity

noun
opac·​i·​ty ō-ˈpas-ət-ē How to pronounce opacity (audio)
plural opacities
1
: the quality or state of a body that makes it impervious to the rays of light
broadly : the relative capacity of matter to obstruct by absorption or reflection the transmission of radiant energy (as X-rays, infrared radiation, or sound)
2
: an opaque spot in a normally transparent structure (as the lens of the eye)

More from Merriam-Webster on opacity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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