luminance

noun

lu·​mi·​nance ˈlü-mə-nən(t)s 

1

: the quality or state of being luminous

2

: the luminous intensity of a surface in a given direction per unit of projected area

Synonyms

• burnish
• gloss
• luster
• lustre
• polish
• sheen
• shine

Examples of luminance in a Sentence

the emerald had a pure, icy green luminance

the landscapes of the French painter Claude Lorraine have a unique luminance that no other artist has quite captured

Recent Examples on the Web

About 30 of those hours were dedicated to gathering luminance data, with the remaining time split between red, green, blue and hydrogen-alpha filter exposures. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 15 May 2025

Dell rates this ultrawide monitor at 350 nits (candelas per square meter) of brightness, though in our tests, the monitor reached a peak luminance of just 265 nits. —PC Magazine, 10 Apr. 2025

The contrast ratio indicates the difference in luminance between the brightest white and the darkest black a monitor can produce. —PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025

The contrast ratio indicates the difference in luminance between the brightest white and the darkest black that a monitor can produce. —PCMAG, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

lumin(ous) + -ance

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for luminance

• illuminance

Medical Definition

luminance

noun

lu·​mi·​nance ˈlü-mə-nən(t)s 

1

: the quality or state of being luminous

2

: the luminous intensity of a surface in a given direction per unit of projected area