transparent

[ trans-pair-uhnt, -par- ]

adjective

1. having the property of transmitting rays of light through its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen.

   Synonyms: crystalline, limpid, pellucid, clear

   Antonyms: opaque

2. admitting the passage of light through interstices.
3. so sheer as to permit light to pass through; diaphanous.
4. easily seen through, recognized, or detected:

   transparent excuses.

5. manifest; obvious:

   a story with a transparent plot.

6. open; frank; candid:

   the man's transparent earnestness.

   Antonyms: secretive

7. Computers. (of a process or software) operating in such a way as to not be perceived by users.
8. Obsolete. shining through, as light.

transparent

/ trænsˈpærənt; -ˈpɛər- /

adjective

1. permitting the uninterrupted passage of light; clear

   a window is transparent

2. easy to see through, understand, or recognize; obvious
3. (of a substance or object) permitting the free passage of electromagnetic radiation

   a substance that is transparent to X-rays

4. candid, open, or frank

transparent

/ trăns-pâr′ənt /

1. Allowing radiation or matter to pass through with little or no resistance or diffusion.
2. Compare opaqueSee Note at glass

Derived Forms

• transˈparently, adverb
• transˈparentness, noun

Other Words From

• trans·parent·ly adverb
• trans·parent·ness noun
• nontrans·parent adjective
• nontrans·parent·ly adverb
• nontrans·parent·ness noun
• subtrans·parent adjective
• subtrans·parent·ly adverb
• subtrans·parent·ness noun
• untrans·parent adjective
• untrans·parent·ly adverb
• untrans·parent·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of transparent¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin trānspārent- (stem of trānspārēns ) “showing through” (present participle of trānspārēre ), equivalent to Latin trāns- trans- + pārent- (stem of pārēns ), present participle of pārēre “to appear”; apparent

Word History and Origins

Origin of transparent¹

C15: from Medieval Latin transpārēre to show through, from Latin trans- + pārēre to appear

Synonym Study

Transparent , translucent agree in describing material that light rays can pass through. That which is transparent allows objects to be seen clearly through it: Clear water is transparent. That which is translucent allows light to pass through, diffusing it, however, so that objects beyond are not distinctly seen: Ground glass is translucent.

Example Sentences

"As our documents show, we have relied upon the most state-of-the-art testing protocols for decades and have been entirely transparent with government institutions and academic researchers regarding our findings."

From BBC

Scrolling through local glamping sites, an eye-catching £99 "stargazing dome" deal offered a futuristic pod with a transparent canopy and breathtaking views of twinkling North Yorkshire skies.

From BBC

As he voted, the military leader hailed the referendum as a “great step forward”, adding that Gabonese were “coming to vote in a transparent fashion”.

From BBC

“We will always be transparent about the challenges of providing this very specialist element of vascular services to the north Wales population and this pause forms part of ongoing reviews to continue delivering safe services.”

From BBC

To avoid being eaten, the mollusk hides with its transparent body and makes a quick escape by quickly closing its oral hood, similar to the movements of a jellyfish.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• candid
• clear-cut
• easy
• honest
• sincere
• straightforward

More About Transparent

What does transparent mean?

Transparent is used to describe things that you can see through or things that allow for light to pass through clearly.

A clear glass window is transparent in this way. A very informal synonym is see-through. However, something doesn’t need to be completely clear to be considered transparent. A fine mesh that is able to be seen through could be described as transparent.

The word translucent is sometimes used as a synonym for transparent. In technical contexts, though, describing something as translucent means that it allows light to pass through but diffuses it so that whatever is on the other side cannot be fully seen. For example, a frosted glass window could be said to be translucent but not transparent (you can see what’s on the other side, but not clearly). Still, in everyday conversation, the words are typically used to mean the same thing.

Transparent is also commonly used in a few figurative ways. Most commonly, it describes things that are free from any attempt to hide something, as in a transparent process or The administration has been praised for its willingness to be transparent with the press. 

It can also mean obvious or easy to understand or figure out, as in The instructions were very transparent and easy to follow.

Sometimes, transparent is used to describe things that may have been intended to hide something but that are easy to recognize or see through in a figurative sense, as in His excuses are so transparent—everyone knows the real reason he called out of work.  

The noun transparency refers to the quality or state of being transparent.

Example: The stadium only allows transparent bags to be brought in so that they can be easily inspected by security.

Where does transparent come from?

The first records of the word transparent come from around 1400. It comes from the Medieval Latin verb transpārēre, meaning “to show through,” from trans-, meaning “through,” and the Latin verb pārēre, meaning “to appear” or “to be visible” (pārēre is also the root of the words appear and apparent).

Describing a process as transparent typically means that it’s completely visible and open to scrutiny—nothing is being hidden. This is especially used in the context of politicians, government agencies, and businesses and calls for them to be transparent. The opposite of this is being secretive.

The opposite of the literal sense of transparent is opaque, which describes things that cannot be seen through at all or that do not let any light pass through them. It can also be used as the opposite of some of the figurative senses of transparent: describing something as opaque can mean that it’s hard to understand.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to transparent?

• transparently (adverb)
• transparentness (noun)
• nontransparent (adjective)
• transparency (noun)

What are some synonyms for transparent?

• translucent (in casual use)
• see-through
• clear
• pellucid
• limpid
• crystalline
• apparent
• candid
• open

What are some words that share a root or word element with transparent? 

• apparent
• appear

What are some words that often get used in discussing transparent?

• glass
• material
• water
• window
• honest
• up-front
• light
• feedback
• excuse

What are some words transparent may be commonly confused with?

• translucent (in technical contexts)

How is transparent used in real life?

In a literal sense, transparent is used to describe things that are completely see-through, like clean water and glass. In a figurative sense, transparent is often used in the context of government agencies and companies, which people often call to be more transparent in dealings with citizens and customers.

🔥 Rare Octopus with Completely Transparent Head 🔥 pic.twitter.com/BRB9cSY0oC

— Nature is Lit (@Nature_Is_Lit) November 10, 2020

I've been tracking election results & updates religiously –– GA has run a smoother, more transparent operation than almost anyone.

— Jesse Lehrich (@JesseLehrich) November 9, 2020

Supermarkets need to be more transparent with their customers about the steps they are taking to reduce their plastic and waste footprint. The time for action is now!https://t.co/Jr5ujv7ef1#PlasticProtest #TrashTalk pic.twitter.com/OFTIPLnDbh

— Surfers Against Sewage (@sascampaigns) September 10, 2020

 

Try using transparent!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of transparent?

A. see-through
B. clear
C. opaque
D. limpid