opaque

C1 · Advanced Academic · Formal

adj. difficult to understand or explain because it is not clear.

adj. obscure or unintelligible in meaning; deliberately or naturally difficult to interpret.

“The report was written in such opaque language that nobody knew what the plan was.”

“Critics argued that the government's decision-making process remained opaque, despite promises of greater transparency and public oversight.”

C2 · Proficiency Computing Technical

adj. describes a piece of computer code where you can use it without knowing how it works inside.

adj. referring to a data type whose internal representation is hidden from the client, accessible only through defined interfaces.

“The library uses an opaque pointer so that developers don't accidentally change the internal data.”

“By using an opaque data type, the API designer ensures that internal structural changes do not break compatibility with third-party integrations.”

C2 · Proficiency Formal · Technical

v. to make something difficult to see through or hard to understand.

v. to render something opaque or less transparent.

“The software allows you to opaque certain parts of the image for security.”

“Specialised chemical treatments can be used to opaque the surface of the plastic during the manufacturing process.”