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

MacRumors thinks this could end up reducing the thickness of the iPhone’s display stack while improving brightness and minimizing power use. —Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 25 Apr. 2026

For this one, LG's stuffed in its third-gen α 11 Processor and Hyper Radiant Color Technology internals from its top-shelf evo G6 range, which makes for higher brightness, accurate colors, and deeper blacks. —Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2026

Considered a medium strength shower, the Lyrids lack the brightness and abundance that other showers provide. —Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026

On the other menu, some plump pickled shrimp are added for a burst of brightness and chew. —Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 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