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 But one area where Jenner opted to be a little more conservative was the dress’s opacity. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024 Joseph’s Omid exudes a smiling reverence, but his friendliness has an opacity that grows in intrigue. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2024 The refinery also violated standards for opacity and visible emissions standards involving smoke, ash and soot, according to a news release from the state health department detailing the settlements. Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2024 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

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 29 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

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