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transparency

n.
US //tɹænˈspɛɹənsi// UK //tɹænspˈæɹənsi// trans·paren·cy
  1. 1 physical clarity (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    the quality of being clear so that you can see through it.

    the physical property of allowing light to pass through a material so that objects behind it can be distinctly seen.

    Example

    The water in the mountain lake was famous for its perfect transparency.

    Example

    The glass manufacturer achieved a level of transparency that made the display cases almost invisible to the museum visitors.
  2. 2 honesty and openness (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the quality of being open and honest, without hiding secrets.

    the characteristic of being easy to perceive or detect; in a social context, the lack of hidden agendas or conditions.

    Example

    The public demanded more transparency from the government about how taxes are spent.

    Example

    The new CEO promised radical transparency regarding the company's environmental impact and supply chain ethics.
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  1. 3 photographic slide (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Photography

    a plastic sheet or film with a picture on it that you show using a projector.

    a positive photographic image on a transparent base, viewed by transmitted light or via a projector.

    Example

    The professor used a transparency on the overhead projector to show the map.

    Example

    Before digital presentations became the norm, photographers would often submit large-format transparencies to magazines for high-quality reproduction.
  2. 4 digital audio/video quality (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Computing

    when a compressed file sounds or looks exactly like the original.

    the state where a lossy compression codec produces output that is perceptually indistinguishable from the original uncompressed source.

    Example

    This audio format offers transparency even at lower bitrates.

    Example

    The engineer argued that the new algorithm achieved full transparency, meaning even trained listeners could not identify the compressed file in a blind test.
Origin

Borrowed from Medieval Latin trānspārentia, equivalent to transparent + -cy.

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