visibility

American  

[viz-uh-bil-i-tee] / ˌvɪz əˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

1. the state or fact of being visible.

2. the relative ability to be seen under given conditions of distance, light, atmosphere, etc..

   low visibility due to fog.

3. Also called visual range.  Meteorology. the distance at which a given standard object can be seen and identified with the unaided eye.

4. the ability to give a relatively large range of unobstructed vision.

   a windshield with good visibility.

5. Typography. legibility.

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visibility British  

/ ˌvɪzɪˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. the condition or fact of being visible

2. clarity of vision or relative possibility of seeing

3. the range of vision

   visibility is 500 yards

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• intervisibility
  noun
• previsibility
  noun
• nonvisibility
  noun

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.

Example Sentences

Customers are starting to share eight quarters of demand visibility with semiconductor-production equipment suppliers, Arcuri said, which is “something we have never heard before” in his nearly three decades of covering the industry.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

She described the scene as "very apocalyptic" due to the poor visibility, adding that many drivers pulled over to look.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

“Sentiment has troughed,” said Morgan Stanley equity analyst Brian Nowak, citing lower visibility and confidence in its ability to turn AI investments into shareholder returns and its staggering rate of capital spending.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

“Said differently, hyperscalers appear increasingly willing to exchange pricing for multiyear supply visibility and greater predictability around future deployment economics,” Arcuri wrote in a report earlier this week.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

The planes would radio the reports to Tibbets, who, based on weather conditions and visibility, would choose from the list of targets.

From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin