brightness

[ brahyt-nis ]

noun

1. the quality of being bright.
2. Optics. the luminance of a body, apart from its hue or saturation, that an observer uses to determine the comparative luminance of another body. Pure white has the maximum brightness, and pure black the minimum brightness.

ˈbrightness

/ ˈbraɪtnɪs /

noun

1. the condition of being bright
2. physics a former name for luminosity
3. psychol the experienced intensity of light

Word History and Origins

Origin of brightness¹

before 950; Middle English brihtnes, Old English beorhtnes. See bright, -ness

Example Sentences

But some road users say their brightness can be a nuisance.

From BBC

Vanessa Alarcon, the astrological observer at the Griffith Observatory, said it can be challenging for the human eye to notice these differences in size and brightness, but that shouldn’t stop people from trying.

From Los Angeles Times

While the brightness will start to decrease, it will still be possible to see the bright comet on Tuesday night - weather permitting.

From BBC

RAS said the object has been called the "comet of the century" because of its impressive brightness and visibility.

From BBC

The exact intensity of Tsuchinshan-ATLAS’s brightness is tough to predict; the comet is still light-years away from Earth, after all.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• brilliance
• illumination
• luster