Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be clearly seen: Describes a material or substance that is clear and see-through.
   • Easy to perceive or detect; obvious: Describes something that is not hidden, disguised, or difficult to understand.
   • Open and honest; not secretive: Describes a person, process, or organization that operates without concealment or deceit.

Usage Examples

• Describing a physical property (allowing light to pass):
  • The bottle was made of transparent glass.
  • She wore a dress of transparent chiffon.
• Describing something obvious or easily understood:
  • His excuse for being late was a transparent lie.
  • The company's motives were transparent to everyone.
• Describing openness and honesty:
  • The government promised a more transparent decision-making process.
  • We need transparent communication between departments.

Advanced Usage

• "Transparent to" (technical): In computing or physics, describes something that allows a process or signal to pass through without modification or detection.
  • The protocol is transparent to the end user.
• Used figuratively for clarity of thought or expression:
  • Her writing is admired for its transparent prose.

Variants and Related Words

• Transparency (n): The quality of being transparent.
  • The report was praised for its transparency.
• Transparently (adv): In a transparent manner.
  • He transparently avoided the question.

Synonyms

• Clear: Easy to see through or understand.
• Lucid: Expressed clearly; easy to understand.
• Limpid: (Of a liquid) completely clear and transparent.
• Pellucid: Translucently clear (often used for writing or water).
• Sheer: (Of a fabric) very thin and translucent.
• Obvious: Easily perceived or understood.

Antonyms

• Opaque: Not able to be seen through; not transparent.
• Unclear: Not easy to see, hear, or understand.
• Deceitful: Guilty of or involving deceit; intended to mislead.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Crystal clear: Extremely transparent or obvious.
  • The water in the lake was crystal clear.
  • Her instructions were crystal clear.
• (As) clear as glass: Completely transparent or obvious.

Adjective

1. easily understood or seen through (because of a lack of subtlety)
   • a transparent explanation
   • a transparent lie
2. free of deceit
3. so thin as to transmit light
   • a hat with a diaphanous veil
   • filmy wings of a moth
   • gauzy clouds of dandelion down
   • gossamer cobwebs
   • sheer silk stockings
   • transparent chiffon
   • vaporous silks
4. transmitting light; able to be seen through with clarity
   • the cold crystalline water of melted snow
   • crystal clear skies
   • could see the sand on the bottom of the limpid pool
   • lucid air
   • a pellucid brook
   • transparent crystal