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
Increasing bipartisan scrutiny and pressure to lower drug prices generally threaten the opacity of their business model, potentially sparking further consolidation as legacy PBMs scramble to defend market share and margins.
—
Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
And an X-ray of his chest was worrisome—there were diffuse ground-glass opacities in his lungs.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 28 May 2025
The movie’s psychological framework, its system of motivations, is stretched very thin between two extremes: of clarity and opacity, near-obviousness and absolute impenetrability.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 28 May 2025
Other firsts include a smart-glass roof featuring four quadrants for passengers to control opacity, and electronic shutters that obscure screen content while driving and can be controlled remotely via a QR code on the phone.
—Jaclyn Trop, Robb Report, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for opacity
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Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
And an X-ray of his chest was worrisome—there were diffuse ground-glass opacities in his lungs.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 28 May 2025
The movie’s psychological framework, its system of motivations, is stretched very thin between two extremes: of clarity and opacity, near-obviousness and absolute impenetrability.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 28 May 2025
Other firsts include a smart-glass roof featuring four quadrants for passengers to control opacity, and electronic shutters that obscure screen content while driving and can be controlled remotely via a QR code on the phone.
—Jaclyn Trop, Robb Report, 21 May 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 5 Jun. 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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