opacity
noun
opac·i·ty
ō-ˈpa-sə-tē 
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)
Synonyms
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
Nichols pointed to opacity in monitoring emissions, noting the weekly monitoring was not frequent enough.
—
Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 2 July 2024
But investors were reminded of how market opacity can trigger extreme volatility when the price of nickel on the London Metal Exchange almost quadrupled over just two days in early 2022, owing to massive short-selling caused in part by a lack of price transparency.
—Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 10 Apr. 2023
For the rest of the trip the river had the color and opacity of pea soup.
—Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2024
This opacity worries Brown University psychology professor Jacqueline Nesi, who says that mental health outcomes could hinge on how the labels are applied.
—Byalexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 19 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for opacity 
Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 2 July 2024
But investors were reminded of how market opacity can trigger extreme volatility when the price of nickel on the London Metal Exchange almost quadrupled over just two days in early 2022, owing to massive short-selling caused in part by a lack of price transparency.
—Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 10 Apr. 2023
For the rest of the trip the river had the color and opacity of pea soup.
—Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2024
This opacity worries Brown University psychology professor Jacqueline Nesi, who says that mental health outcomes could hinge on how the labels are applied.
—Byalexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 19 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for opacity
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.
Dictionary Entries Near opacity
Cite this Entry
“Opacity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opacity. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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Medical Definition
opacity
noun
opac·i·ty
ō-ˈpas-ət-ē
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)
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