brightness

[ brahyt-nis ]

noun

1. the quality of being bright.
2. Optics. the luminance of a body, apart from its hue or saturation, that an observer uses to determine the comparative luminance of another body. Pure white has the maximum brightness, and pure black the minimum brightness.

ˈbrightness

/ ˈbraɪtnɪs /

noun

1. the condition of being bright
2. See luminosity
   physics a former name for luminosity
3. psychol the experienced intensity of light

Word History and Origins

Origin of brightness¹

before 950; Middle English brihtnes, Old English beorhtnes. See bright, -ness

Example Sentences

According to Donahue, an ideal goal would be to reduce the brightness of these satellites by a factor of 100.

From MIT Technology Review

SpaceX tested out a prototype “DarkSat” paint on a Starlink satellite in January, but it failed to significantly reduce brightness.

From MIT Technology Review

A remote control helps you adjust the brightness and set a timer for turning the lights on and off.

From Popular-Science

Astronomers seek out potential exoplanets by looking for fluctuations in the brightness of distant stars.

From Fortune

The fields are weak and the brightness of the sun outshines its corona.

From Science News

Hop in bed with your iPad or iPhone and turn the brightness all the way up.

From The Daily Beast

Consumer Reports last month actually ran one for 25,000 hours straight and it still maintained its brightness.

From The Daily Beast

Cider boasts acidity and (generally) effervescence, both of which cleanse the palate and add brightness and lift to rich dishes.

From The Daily Beast

But it gave the video a particular look—a particular brightness for the colors.

From The Daily Beast

Viewers may need to lower screen brightness or don some sunglasses.

From The Daily Beast

The poor must look to the brightness of a future world for the consolation that they were denied in this.

From Project Gutenberg

Robert's going had some way taken the brightness, the color, the meaning out of everything.

From Project Gutenberg

Sickness had never blanched the warm glow on her cheeks, or dimmed the brightness of her large, lustrous eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

I met him on Kingstown promenade the other day walking with an elastic step and with the brightness of youth in his eye.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a golden day, almost incredibly clear and radiant, quivering with brightness and life, and surely with ecstasy.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• brilliance
• illumination
• luster