visibility
Americannoun
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the state or fact of being visible.
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the relative ability to be seen under given conditions of distance, light, atmosphere, etc..
low visibility due to fog.
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Also called visual range. Meteorology. the distance at which a given standard object can be seen and identified with the unaided eye.
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the ability to give a relatively large range of unobstructed vision.
a windshield with good visibility.
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Typography. legibility.
noun
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the condition or fact of being visible
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clarity of vision or relative possibility of seeing
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the range of vision
visibility is 500 yards
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of visibility
1575–85; < Late Latin vīsibilitās, equivalent to Latin vīsibili ( s ) visible + -tās -ty 2
Explanation
Use the noun visibility to describe how well you can see something, like the great visibility from the top of a mountain on a clear day. In addition to meaning "how well you can see," visibility can also mean "how well others can see something." So, the reflective stripes on your running pants give you visibility in the dark because they help other people see you. Another kind of visibility is being in the public eye, like an actor whose visibility helps him land roles in movies and promote the causes he cares about, like literacy or helping endangered animals.
Vocabulary lists containing visibility
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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.
All along, the moment shows, capable thinkers have still been able to find doors into the mainstream media, not to mention doors to new kinds of visibility via YouTube, X and Substack.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
“Large cloud and AI customers are signing longer-term supply commitments. This gives SK Hynix more visibility for future demand.”
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
"There does seem to be an increase in the visibility of it. We're looking at organised crime that has manifested because nobody has put it away, nobody has forced it underground," says Glantz.
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026
“Sentiment has troughed,” said Morgan Stanley equity analyst Brian Nowak, citing lower visibility and confidence in its ability to turn AI investments into shareholder returns and its staggering rate of capital spending.
From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026
I tried to go faster, but visibility was gone.
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
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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.