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 people who have been inside recently say the experience is awe-inspiring, the cathedral lifted by a new clarity and brightness that mark a sharp contrast with the pervading gloom of before.

From BBC

For example, this supernova had a period of brightness that stayed steady for about 20 days before declining, whereas the brightness of its metal-rich counterparts usually lasted for about 100 days.

From Science Daily

The aim is to dial up SPring-8’s brightness more than 100 times, making it the world’s most powerful synchrotron.

From Science Magazine

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

Related Words

• brilliance
• illumination
• luster