Origin: Latin prefix trans-
Transparency has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
permitting the free passage of electromagnetic radiation
"The glass pane's high transparency allowed almost all sunlight to pass through without obstruction."
the quality of being clear and transparent
"The high transparency of the glass allowed us to see everything on the other side clearly."
picture consisting of a positive photograph or drawing on a transparent base; viewed with a projector
"The teacher placed the transparency over the overhead projector to show the class the detailed diagram of the cell."
The quality of being transparent; transparence.
"The transparency of the glass allowed us to see the garden clearly on the other side."
In plain English: Transparency is when something allows you to see clearly through it without any obstruction.
"The transparency of the glass allowed us to see everything inside the box clearly."
Usage: Transparency refers to both physical clarity and, more commonly in everyday use, the openness with which information or actions are shared. Use it when describing honest communication rather than a material's ability to let light pass through.
The word transparency comes from the Medieval Latin term trānspārentia, which was formed by combining transparent with the suffix -cy. It entered English through this direct borrowing to describe the quality of being see-through or open about information.