transparent
Americanadjective
-
having the property of transmitting rays of light through its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen.
- Synonyms:
- crystalline, limpid, pellucid, clear
- Antonyms:
- opaque
-
admitting the passage of light through interstices.
-
so sheer as to permit light to pass through; diaphanous.
-
easily seen through, recognized, or detected.
transparent excuses.
-
manifest; obvious.
a story with a transparent plot.
-
open; frank; candid.
the man's transparent earnestness.
- Antonyms:
- secretive
-
Computers. (of a process or software) operating in such a way as to not be perceived by users.
-
Obsolete. shining through, as light.
adjective
-
permitting the uninterrupted passage of light; clear
a window is transparent
-
easy to see through, understand, or recognize; obvious
-
(of a substance or object) permitting the free passage of electromagnetic radiation
a substance that is transparent to X-rays
-
candid, open, or frank
-
Allowing radiation or matter to pass through with little or no resistance or diffusion.
-
Compare opaque translucent See Note at glass
Usage
What does transparent mean? Transparent is used to describe things that you can see through or things that allow for light to pass through clearly.A clear glass window is transparent in this way. A very informal synonym is see-through. However, something doesn’t need to be completely clear to be considered transparent. A fine mesh that is able to be seen through could be described as transparent.The word translucent is sometimes used as a synonym for transparent. In technical contexts, though, describing something as translucent means that it allows light to pass through but diffuses it so that whatever is on the other side cannot be fully seen. For example, a frosted glass window could be said to be translucent but not transparent (you can see what’s on the other side, but not clearly). Still, in everyday conversation, the words are typically used to mean the same thing.Transparent is also commonly used in a few figurative ways. Most commonly, it describes things that are free from any attempt to hide something, as in a transparent process or The administration has been praised for its willingness to be transparent with the press. It can also mean obvious or easy to understand or figure out, as in The instructions were very transparent and easy to follow.Sometimes, transparent is used to describe things that may have been intended to hide something but that are easy to recognize or see through in a figurative sense, as in His excuses are so transparent—everyone knows the real reason he called out of work. The noun transparency refers to the quality or state of being transparent.Example: The stadium only allows transparent bags to be brought in so that they can be easily inspected by security.
Related Words
Transparent , translucent agree in describing material that light rays can pass through. That which is transparent allows objects to be seen clearly through it: Clear water is transparent. That which is translucent allows light to pass through, diffusing it, however, so that objects beyond are not distinctly seen: Ground glass is translucent.
Other Word Forms
- nontransparent adjective
- nontransparently adverb
- nontransparentness noun
- subtransparent adjective
- subtransparently adverb
- subtransparentness noun
- transparently adverb
- transparentness noun
- untransparent adjective
- untransparently adverb
- untransparentness noun
Etymology
Origin of transparent
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin trānspārent- (stem of trānspārēns ) “showing through” (present participle of trānspārēre ), equivalent to Latin trāns- trans- + pārent- (stem of pārēns ), present participle of pārēre “to appear”; apparent
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.
The fire department has been anything but transparent.
BBC chairman Samir Shah said changes to the BBC board's editorial standards committee would "ensure swift, appropriate and transparent action is taken to address editorial issues as effectively as possible, whenever they occur".
From BBC
“Agencies owe a duty to the public to be more proactive and more transparent, even than the bare minimum letter of the law might allow them to get away with,” Loy said.
From Los Angeles Times
The company, Noto added, is “combining our regulatory strength as a national bank with transparent, fully reserved on-chain technology to provide a safer and more efficient way for partners to move funds.”
From Barron's
The government said it hopes this will stop third-party companies "exploiting vulnerable learners and make the whole process more transparent".
From BBC
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.
