obscuration

[ ob-skyoo-rey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of obscuring.
2. the state of being obscured.

Word History and Origins

Origin of obscuration¹

1425–75; late Middle English < Latin obscūrātiōn- (stem of obscūrātiō ) a darkening, equivalent to obscūrāt ( us ), past participle of obscūrāre ( obscūr ( us ) dark + -ātus -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion; -ation

Example Sentences

According to calculations by NASA, areas to the south and east of Los Angeles will see about 50% obscuration — the moon shrouding half of the sun — while much of the rest of the state will see around 25%.

From Los Angeles Times

L.A. is expected to see 48.6% obscuration around 11:12 a.m.

From Los Angeles Times

Because solar energy in space isn’t subject to factors like day and night, obscuration by clouds, or weather on Earth, it is always available.

From Scientific American

Shetland is expected to have a 39% obscuration, which indicates how much of the sun's disc area is covered as a percentage.

From BBC

“Smoke coverage was about the densest, most even all-day obscuration I can remember. Gray, gray, gray!”

From Washington Post

Related Words

• dark
• gloom
• obscurity
• shade