brightness

noun

bright·​ness ˈbrīt-nəs 

1

a

: the quality or state of being bright

also : an instance of such a quality or state

b

: luminance

2

: the attribute of light-source colors by which emitted light is ordered continuously from light to dark in correlation with its intensity compare hue sense 2c, lightness entry 1 sense 2a, saturation sense 4

Synonyms

• brilliance
• brilliancy
• candor
• dazzle
• effulgence
• illumination
• lambency
• lightness
• luminance
• luminosity
• luminousness
• luster
• lustre
• lustrousness
• radiance
• refulgence
• splendor

Examples of brightness in a Sentence

the brightness of the sunshine made me squint after an afternoon spent in a darkened movie theater

Recent Examples on the Web

The Geminids are competing with a full moon The Cold Moon, the last full moon of the year, will rise on Saturday and its brightness will outshine some of the shooting stars that are normally visible with the Geminids. —Chandelis Duster, NPR, 12 Dec. 2024

The 28-300mm relies on digital corrections to resolve distortion and deliver consistent brightness across the frame. —PCMAG, 11 Dec. 2024

The smart light tracks daylight and automatically tweaks brightness and color to ensure the perfect light. —Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2024

The One boasts peak brightness of 600 nits, but the Pro boosts that to 700 nits. —Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Medical Definition

brightness

noun

bright·​ness ˈbrīt-nəs 

: the one of the three psychological dimensions of color perception by which visual stimuli are ordered continuously from light to dark and which is correlated with light intensity compare hue, saturation sense 4a