visibility
Americannoun
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the state or fact of being visible.
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the relative ability to be seen under given conditions of distance, light, atmosphere, etc..
low visibility due to fog.
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Also called visual range. Meteorology. the distance at which a given standard object can be seen and identified with the unaided eye.
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the ability to give a relatively large range of unobstructed vision.
a windshield with good visibility.
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Typography. legibility.
noun
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the condition or fact of being visible
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clarity of vision or relative possibility of seeing
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the range of vision
visibility is 500 yards
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of visibility
1575–85; < Late Latin vīsibilitās, equivalent to Latin vīsibili ( s ) visible + -tās -ty 2
Explanation
Use the noun visibility to describe how well you can see something, like the great visibility from the top of a mountain on a clear day. In addition to meaning "how well you can see," visibility can also mean "how well others can see something." So, the reflective stripes on your running pants give you visibility in the dark because they help other people see you. Another kind of visibility is being in the public eye, like an actor whose visibility helps him land roles in movies and promote the causes he cares about, like literacy or helping endangered animals.
Vocabulary lists containing visibility
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List 8
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Tina Turner (1939–2023) Tribute List
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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.
They see a world where supply visibility improves, which Dell has shown is possible given its strong track record of leveraging its scale to deliver ahead of competitors.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
He added that Hilton’s rise is unusual in California, where statewide candidates typically spend enormous sums of money to raise their visibility among the state’s 23.1 million registered voters.
From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026
North Wales Police said it had "carried out routine visibility patrols in the area during peak traffic periods".
From BBC • May 27, 2026
The SCAs “have specific commitments over a multiyear time horizon for improved visibility and stability in our business model,” Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said on the call.
From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026
The children who came along the beach, singly or in twos, leapt into visibility when they crossed the line from heat haze to nearer sand.
From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding
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.
