opacity

American  

[oh-pas-i-tee] / oʊˈpæs ɪ ti /

noun

plural

opacities

1. the state or quality of being opaque.

2. something opaque.

3. the degree to which a substance is opaque; capacity for being opaque.

4. Photography. the proportion of the light that is absorbed by the emulsion on any given area of a film or plate.

5. obscurity of meaning.

6. mental dullness.

7. Medicine/Medical. an opaque spot or area in normally clear or transparent tissue, as a cataract of the eye.

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opacity British  

/ əʊˈpæsɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being opaque

2. the degree to which something is opaque

3. an opaque object or substance

4. obscurity of meaning; unintelligibility

5. physics photog the ratio of the intensity of light incident on a medium, such as a photographic film, to that transmitted through the medium

6. logic philosophy the property of being an opaque context

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Other Word Forms

• nonopacity noun

Etymology

Origin of opacity

First recorded in 1550–60, opacity is from the Latin word opācitās shade. See opaque, -ity

Example Sentences

The Cliffwater Corporate Lending Fund’s opacity helps explain why it is facing redemptions.

From The Wall Street Journal

Perhaps it is the neighborhood’s enduring, somewhat mysterious opacity that appeals to a new generation of designers and artists.

From Los Angeles Times

Blue Owl shares fell over 45% from their peak, while experts warn of opacity and leverage in private credit not reflected in public markets.

From Barron's

This opacity matters most for retail investors, who have more immediate liquidity needs and rely more on timely and trustworthy pricing to assess risk.

From MarketWatch

It started with the concept album “A Curious Feeling,” its obsessive autumnal gloom and ornate melodies made even more memorable by the monochrome opacity of the production.

From Los Angeles Times