clarity
Americannoun
-
clearness or lucidity as to perception or understanding; freedom from indistinctness or ambiguity.
- Synonyms:
- simplicity, exactness, intelligibility
-
the state or quality of being clear or transparent to the eye; pellucidity.
the clarity of pure water.
noun
-
clearness, as of expression
-
clearness, as of water
Other Word Forms
- unclarity noun
Etymology
Origin of clarity
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English cler(e)te, clar(i)te, from Old French clarte, from Latin clāritāt-, stem of clāritās, equivalent to clear + -ity
Explanation
Clarity means clearness. Clean water running down a mountain has clarity. So does a lovely singing voice: it's clear and pure. If you bring clarity to a situation, you help people see what really happened by clearing up misunderstandings or giving explanations. Sometimes people talk about having moments of clarity when suddenly everything about a particular situation or even about life itself comes into focus. People also talk about good writing having clarity when it is precise, clean, and easy to understand.
Vocabulary lists containing clarity
Starting Your New Life: Inspiring Words from Commencement Speeches
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!
Keystone Exams: English Composition Glossary
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!
Journalism
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.
Greater clarity can help a speaker seem more refined but can also strike the ear as cold or pretentious.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026
With the interpretation of these decisions going back and forth for some time, the application of the guidelines was inconsistent until the Court finally acted with clarity in the 1967 case Afroyim v.
From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026
This iron has preserved plants, insects, spiders, fish, and even feathers with remarkable clarity.
From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026
“Together, these actions provide immediate and long-term clarity to researchers, patients, and providers alike while still maintaining strict federal controls against illicit drug trafficking,” the agencies said.
From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026
Things are steeped in a new clarity, a clear focus.
From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen
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.
