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

• brilliance
• brilliancy
• candor
• dazzle
• effulgence
• illumination
• lambency
• lightness
• luminance
• luminosity
• luminousness
• luster
• lustre
• lustrousness
• radiance
• refulgence
• splendor

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

The internal display has the same 7.6-inch size with a hardly noticeable jump in pixel density but gets a significant brightness boost to 2,600 nits. —Quentyn Kennemer, The Verge, 10 July 2024

The phone ran for an impressive 16 hours and 5 minutes in our stress test, which requires it to stream an HD video over Wi-Fi with the screen set at its full brightness. —PCMAG, 9 July 2024

Despite their different levels of brightness and saturation, both are distinct paint colors that look clean and clearly embody a certain visual aesthetic. —Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2024

Slightly worse brightness capability than others ⊗ Auto keystone correction miscalculates ⊗ Set-up was challenging The Capsule 3 GTV offers a superb combination of high-quality projection and compact portability. —Johanna Flashman, Outside Online, 5 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

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