translucent
Americanadjective
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Allowing radiation (most commonly light) to pass through, but causing diffusion. Frosted glass, for example, is translucent to visible light.
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Compare transparent
Synonym Usage
See transparent.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of translucent
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin trānslūcent- (stem of trānslūcēns ), present participle of trānslūcēre “to shine through”; see trans-, lucent
Explanation
A translucent material lets light pass through, but objects on the other side can't be seen clearly. Think Shrinky Dinks or stained glass. In contrast, a transparent material allows you to clearly see the objects on the other side. Frosted glass is translucent, and regular glass is transparent. But opaque glass doesn't let any light through at all, and so you can't see through it. The adjective translucent is from the Latin translucens, from translucere "to shine through."
Vocabulary lists containing translucent
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 1
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Let There Be Light: Lum and Luc
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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.
Sticky, translucent strings dangle from Wesley Smith's chopsticks as the American tourist relishes his natto, the loved-and-hated Japanese fermented soybean superfood going global one slimy mouthful at a time.
From Barron's • Jun. 22, 2026
"I love, love, love, love, love this toner," she says, as she rubs the translucent liquid into her skin.
From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026
Their wings deserve a close inspection, as the translucent curved fixtures are inspired by stained glass windows.
From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026
And for the upper, it used a nearly translucent fabric inspired by the material used in kites.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026
In the morning light, she could see that the paper was not white exactly but a faded yellow, and so thin as to be nearly translucent, like the wings of a dragonfly.
From "Orphan Island" by Laurel Snyder
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.
