pellucid
Americanadjective
-
allowing the maximum passage of light, as glass; translucent
- Antonyms:
- opaque
-
pellucid waters.
- Synonyms:
- transparent
- Antonyms:
- opaque
-
clear in meaning, expression, or style.
a pellucid way of writing.
- Antonyms:
- obscure
adjective
-
transparent or translucent
-
extremely clear in style and meaning; limpid
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of pellucid
First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin pellūcidus, variant of perlūcidus “transparent, radiant”; see origin at per-, lucid
Explanation
A sentence that teaches a new vocabulary word should always be pellucid, that is, its style and meaning should be easily understandable so that you can derive the definition from the sentence. You may have heard the word lucid, which means clear. Both lucid and pellucid derive from a Latin word that means "to shine through." Pellucid water is clear, a pellucid sky is a particularly intense shade of blue, pellucid prose is writing that's easy to understand, and pellucid singing is clear and light in tone.
Vocabulary lists containing pellucid
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Let There Be Light: Lum and Luc
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Discerning, tender and pellucid in its beauty, this is the kind of small, perfect novel it is hard to imagine anybody not loving.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
A sea foam green salmon, its pellucid glass skin reflecting the light, swims upstream across the white wall.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 19, 2024
If you are missing cocktail bars, New York City before the shutdown or simply pellucid and startlingly intelligent poetry, “Three Poems” is a book for you.
From New York Times • Apr. 10, 2020
But even on Capri I could not devote myself exclusively to the enjoyment of the pellucid blue waters, the fresh seafood and the icy limoncello.
From Washington Post • Aug. 28, 2019
Her lashes, he recalled, were golden red, her eyes pellucid blue.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.