# translucent

/tɹænˈsɫusənt/ (US) · /tɹænslˈuːsənt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/translucent
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

allowing some light to pass through but not enough to see clear images. You can see light through it, but you cannot see exactly what is on the other side.

For teachers: permitting the passage of light but diffusing it so that objects on the opposite side are not clearly visible. Often used to describe materials like frosted glass, paper, or skin.

## Examples

- The bathroom window is made of translucent glass.
- The chef sliced the fish so thin that it became almost translucent on the plate.
- The architect chose translucent panels for the exterior walls to allow natural light to permeate the building while maintaining the privacy of the residents within.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The window is transparent so I can't see through it." but "The window is translucent so I can't see through it." — Learners often confuse 'translucent' with 'transparent'; transparent means you can see through it clearly, while translucent means light passes through but images are blurred.

## Usage notes

- Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'become'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.