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transparent
/trænsˈpærənt/
allowing light to pass through
The glass is transparent, so you can see the flowers inside.
The glass allows light to pass through clearly, making the flowers visible.
general
allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen
Water is a transparent liquid.
Water allows you to see clearly through it.
Used for physical materials like glass, water, or plastic.
informal
easy to perceive or detect; obvious
His excitement was transparent.
His excitement was very obvious and easy to see.
Often used to describe emotions or intentions that are not hidden.
Business
formal
open to scrutiny; allowing people to see exactly how decisions are made
The company aims for full transparency in its financial reporting.
The company wants to be completely open and honest about its money matters.
Common in corporate governance and public administration.
Collocations
fully transparentcompletely open and honesttransparent materialmaterial that lets light throughlack of transparencysecrecy or lack of openness
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish from Translucent
Use 'transparent' for materials you can see clearly through (like a window). Use 'translucent' for materials that let light through but blur the image (like frosted glass).
Gold Rule
Context Matters
Always check if 'transparent' refers to physical visibility or metaphorical honesty. The preposition 'about' is often used with the metaphorical sense (e.g., 'transparent about their goals').
Word Origin
From Latin 'transparentem', present participle of 'transparere' (to shine through), from 'trans-' (across) + 'parere' (to appear).
Usage Notes
In business and politics, 'transparent' is a positive term implying honesty. In physical descriptions, it is neutral. Do not confuse with 'translucent' (lets light through but not clear images) or 'transparent' (clear images).
Word Breakdown
trans-
across
prefixparent
appearing
rootEnglish Dictionary