opacity
opacity
Noun
This term describes a state of blockage, whether physical or intellectual. In a physical sense, it refers to the inability of light to pass through a material, creating a visual barrier. It is often used in technical contexts like optics or chemistry to describe the density of a substance.
When applied to language or concepts, it describes a lack of clarity that makes a subject impenetrable to the mind. This usage carries a negative connotation of intentional or accidental obfuscation, where the meaning is hidden behind complex structures or jargon.
Meanings
Examples
The opacity of the frosted glass prevents people from seeing into the bathroom.
The opacity of the legal jargon made the contract nearly impossible to decipher.
Related Words
cloudinessmurkinessobscurityvaguenessambiguitytransparencyclarityluciditypellucidityopaquetranslucenttransparentlightphotonrefractionreflectionabsorptionscatteringglassfrostingmistfoghazesmokeclouddensitythicknessviscosityobscurehiddenconcealmentblindnessdarknessshadowshadeblurmatteglossfinishpigmentdyeinkpaintlayerfilterscreenbarriermembraneskinsurfacedepthcomplexityjargonarcanacrypticenigmapuzzlemysteryconfusionperplexityobscurationtechnicality