brightness

noun

bright·​ness ˈbrīt-nəs 

1

a

: the quality or state of being bright

also : an instance of such a quality or state

b

: luminance

2

: the attribute of light-source colors by which emitted light is ordered continuously from light to dark in correlation with its intensity compare hue sense 2c, lightness entry 1 sense 2a, saturation sense 4

Synonyms of brightness

• brilliancy
• brilliance
• lightness
• illumination
• luminosity

Examples of brightness in a Sentence

the brightness of the sunshine made me squint after an afternoon spent in a darkened movie theater

Recent Examples on the Web

We were also impressed by the Super Actua OLED screen, which boasts a massive peak brightness of 2,400 nits. —K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026

The cooling gel formula contains three types of hyaluronic acid to improve brightness and hydration. —John Monaco, InStyle, 1 Apr. 2026

Follow with low lighting throughout the home rather than returning to full brightness. —Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026

In addition to the undertone, brightness also plays a decisive role in figuring out the best color combinations. —Jana Ackermann, Glamour, 28 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for brightness

• lightness
• rightness
• tightness
• whiteness
• politeness
• uprightness

Medical Definition

brightness

noun

bright·​ness ˈbrīt-nəs 

: the one of the three psychological dimensions of color perception by which visual stimuli are ordered continuously from light to dark and which is correlated with light intensity compare hue, saturation sense 4a