visibility

American  

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

noun

• visibilities
  plural

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
• nonvisibility
  noun
• previsibility
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• visibilities
  plural

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

See Examples For:

visibility visibilities

ServiceNow is focusing on security at the management layer attached to the platform, allowing companies to streamline threat detection and increase visibility across all AI applications.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 2, 2026

"When you're diving, as long as the visibility is good, you can negotiate your way around a jellyfish relatively easily, if you know what way the current is flowing and you pay attention," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

The Dutch group expects revenue to exceed its previous 2027 target of $4.21 billion to $5.23 billion, citing strong orders, expectations for continued robust bookings, and visibility from customers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Pro softball leagues have existed since 1976, but they have lacked the visibility and accessibility imperative to flourishing and gaining popularity.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

The visibility is low tonight because there is a high amount of dust in the atmosphere.

From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga

Snowfall totals ended up on the lower end of forecasts, but winds as high as 40 mph still buffeted the area, leading to drifting and visibilities near zero at times.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 23, 2023

“It looks like winds may be strong enough in the Antelope Valley that there might be some reduced visibilities due to blowing dust and sand.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2022

Images captured at the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area in Mammoth Lakes revealed visibilities down to barely 200 feet.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 28, 2021

I think that there has been a shift that is less law and legislation than shifts in consciousness and visibilities, and that will have consequences.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 8, 2018

Clearly, if the most brilliant star in the heavens and a star that cannot be seen by the naked eye, prove to be equidistant, relative distances cannot be in the least inferred from relative visibilities.

From Essays: Scientific, Political, & Speculative, Vol. I by Spencer, Herbert