opacity
noun
opac·i·ty
ō-ˈpa-sə-tē 
plural opacities
1
a
: obscurity of sense : unintelligibility
b
: the quality or state of being mentally obtuse : dullness
2
: the quality or state of a body that makes it impervious to the rays of light
broadly
: the relative capacity of matter to obstruct the transmission of radiant energy
3
: an opaque spot in a normally transparent structure (such as the lens of the eye)
Examples of opacity in a Sentence
the opacity of the glass
Critics have noted the opacity of her writing style.
Recent Examples on the Web
This opacity fuels her push for mapping Toronto’s Black cultural ecosystem.
—
Byron Armstrong, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Pressing the gear icon brings up a list of attributes to customize, including font size, font color, type style, background color, and window opacity.
—PCMAG, 25 Mar. 2025
The black box problem refers to the opacity of certain AI systems.
—David Paffenholz, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
This opacity hampers efforts to implement effective sustainability measures and underscores the need for industry-wide standards and greater transparency in reporting energy consumption and emissions.
—Monica Sanders, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opacity
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Byron Armstrong, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Pressing the gear icon brings up a list of attributes to customize, including font size, font color, type style, background color, and window opacity.
—PCMAG, 25 Mar. 2025
The black box problem refers to the opacity of certain AI systems.
—David Paffenholz, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
This opacity hampers efforts to implement effective sustainability measures and underscores the need for industry-wide standards and greater transparency in reporting energy consumption and emissions.
—Monica Sanders, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opacity
Cite this Entry
“Opacity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opacity. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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Medical Definition
opacity
noun
opac·i·ty
ō-ˈpas-ət-ē
plural opacities
1
: the quality or state of a body that makes it impervious to the rays of light
broadly
: the relative capacity of matter to obstruct by absorption or reflection the transmission of radiant energy (as X-rays, infrared radiation, or sound)
2
: an opaque spot in a normally transparent structure (as the lens of the eye)
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