albedo

noun

al·​be·​do al-ˈbē-(ˌ)dō 

plural albedos

1

: reflective power

specifically : the fraction of incident radiation (such as light) that is reflected by a surface or body (such as the moon or a cloud) compare reflectance

2

: the whitish, spongy inner part of the rind of a citrus fruit : the mesocarp of a hesperidium

The trouble with grapefruit is that however carefully you peel it, some of the white stuff always sticks to the fruit. The spongy white tissue, called albedo, is quite bitter, and it clings with the tenacity of lichen.

—Discover

compare flavedo

Examples of albedo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

So the Earth itself seems to have a much higher albedo than the moon. — Evan Bush, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026

The albedo [brightness] of the moon would be significantly higher. — Sarah Lewin Frasier, Scientific American, 5 Dec. 2025

High albedo, usually for the moon, means bright areas, and low albedo refers to dimmer locations, Gross said. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2026

The planet then absorbs more heat — a process called the albedo effect — creating a feedback loop that leads to faster and more severe climate impacts. — Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin albēdin-, albēdō "whiteness, white color," from Latin albus "light-colored, white" + -ēdin-, -ēdō, suffix of abstract nouns; (sense 1) after German Albedo in this sense, borrowed from Latin — more at alb, torpedo

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for albedo

• amido
• basedow
• ejido
• libido
• tuxedo

Medical Definition

albedo

noun

al·​be·​do al-ˈbēd-(ˌ)ō 

plural albedos

: the fraction of incident light or electromagnetic radiation that is reflected by a surface or body (as the moon or the skin)