Words / B2

tran-SPAR-uh-nsee/trænˈspærənsi/

Transparency is openness about information (uncountable in public life): transparency over fees; a lack of transparency. Transparent is the adjective. Openness is a close twin; accountability is related but about being answerable. Do not call a glass window transparency in a politics essay. Campaigners demand transparency over lobbying.

Meaning

The quality of being open and not hiding information (uncountable in public life).

Examples

• “Campaigners demanded more transparency over lobbying.”
• “Fee transparency was a condition of the licence.”

Good to know

Uncountable: transparency; transparency over / in. Adjective: transparent. Close: openness. Related: accountability. Politics/business, not a window pane.

Near in meaning

openness

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