perspicuity

[ pur-spi-kyoo-i-tee ]
See synonyms for perspicuity on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. clearness or lucidity, as of a statement.

  2. the quality of being perspicuous.

Origin of perspicuity

1
From the Latin word perspicuitās, dating back to 1470–80. See perspicuous, -ity

synonym study For perspicuity

2. Perspicuity, perspicacity are both derived from a Latin word meaning “to see through.” Perspicacity refers to the power of seeing clearly, to clearness of insight or judgment: a person of acute perspicacity; the perspicacity of his judgment. Perspicuity refers to something that can be seen through, i.e., to lucidity, clearness of style or exposition, freedom from obscurity: the perspicuity of her argument.

Other words for perspicuity

Opposites for perspicuity

Words Nearby perspicuity

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use perspicuity in a sentence

  • Thus Arnold thinks that what Tacitus gained in energy he lost in elegance and perspicuity.

  • The picture of the stage coach era herein drawn may be lacking in vigor and perspicuity of style, but it contains no exaggeration.

    The Old Pike | Thomas B. Searight
  • By the side of him trotted two poodles, whose close-cropped skins showed out with remarkable perspicuity.

    Animal Ghosts | Elliott O'Donnell
  • Writers of our own time who have never gone in for a course of logic rarely condescend to complete perspicuity.

  • It is written without prejudice, with considerable perspicuity, and with unquestionable sincerity.

    Byron | Richard Edgcumbe

British Dictionary definitions for perspicuity

perspicuity

/ (ˌpɜːspɪˈkjuːɪtɪ) /


noun
  1. the quality of being perspicuous

  2. acute perception; perspicacity

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012