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Transparent

Capable of being seen through; used figuratively to mean easily understood or candid and open.

adjective

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Imagine This

Imagine a pane of crystal-clear glass that reveals every detail on the other side with no distortion; nothing is hidden from view.

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Sounds Like

trans-PAR-uhnt

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Looks Like

See-through material; clear glass

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Remember This

Transparent derives from Latin transparens, from trans- 'through' + parere 'to appear, to show'; its figurative sense of openness dates from the 17th century.

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Other Forms

transparencynoun

transparentlyadverb

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Connect With

clarity, openness, candor, lucid, pellucid

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Note

In everyday usage, transparent describes both physical clarity (clear, see-through) and honesty or openness. Do not confuse with translucent, which allows light to pass but not clearly reveal what lies beyond.

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Study Deeper

Examples

The window was so transparent that you could see the mountains beyond.
The company's annual report was praised for its transparent accounting practices.

Synonyms

clearpellucidlucidopencandid

Antonyms

opaquesecretiveobscure

Etymology

From Latin transparens, from trans- 'through' + parere 'to appear'; via French and English adoption, the sense broadened from literal light-through to figurative openness.

Mnemonic

Mnemonic: Through-appear-ent. Remember that transparent means 'through and visible'—think of a pane of glass that lets you see through to what is on the other side: trans- (through) + par(e) (appear) + -ent (adjective).