Home › Technology › Ethics in Science & Tech › transparency

transparency

trans-PAIR-un-see /trænsˈpærənsi/

nounC1GRETOEFLIELTS

formalgeneral

The condition of being transparent; openness and honesty.

In an ethical context, it means operating in such a way that it is easy for others to see what actions are performed.

The story behind the word. The word 'transparency' comes from the Latin 'trans-' (across) and 'parere' (to appear), literally meaning 'to appear across.' Initially, it referred to the physical property of allowing light to pass through. By the 18th century, it began to acquire its metaphorical sense of clarity and openness, especially in political and ethical discourse, signifying a lack of hidden agendas or secrets.

Word relationships

openness: The quality of being accessible, candid, and not secretive.
candor: The quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness.
clarity: The quality of being clear, easy to understand, or unambiguous.

opacity: The condition of being opaque; lack of transparency or clarity.
secrecy: The action of keeping something secret or the state of being kept secret.

Word family

transparent (adjective): allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen; (of an organization or procedure) open to public scrutiny.
transparently (adverb): in a way that allows light to pass through; in an open and honest way.

Collocations

full transparency
lack of transparency
financial transparency
data transparency
promote transparency

Example sentences

"The public demanded greater transparency in how the government awarded contracts." In government operations.
"Achieving full transparency in supply chains is a significant challenge for many companies." Regarding corporate practices.
"Ethical AI requires transparency in algorithmic decision-making, allowing users to understand how conclusions are reached." In AI development.

Memory hook

Think of a 'TRANSPARENT' window that lets you see 'ACROSS' it, just as ethical transparency lets you see into an organization's workings. See-through operations.

When not to use

Do not use 'transparency' to refer to literal physical transparency (like glass) when discussing ethical or organizational contexts. While the metaphor is clear, the word's primary ethical meaning is about openness.

Fun facts

The term 'glass box' is sometimes used as a metaphor for transparency in business or government, contrasting with a 'black box' where internal workings are hidden.