Meaning & use
no transparency
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
A situation in which an organization or government does not share information openly with the public.
Grammar: Used after verbs like be, have, or there is: There is no transparency in the process.
Patterns
- there is no transparency in something
- no transparency about something
- accuse someone of no transparency
Voters complained that there was no transparency about how the money was spent.
The report found no transparency in the hiring process.
Critics say the deal shows no transparency and no accountability.
phrasefixed phrasetechnical
The state of being impossible to see through, used about materials or images.
Grammar: Technical use; in everyday speech people usually say 'not transparent' or 'opaque'.
Patterns
- no transparency in a material
- show no transparency
The treated glass shows no transparency at all.
This layer has no transparency, so you cannot see the image behind it.
Common combinations
- no transparency whatsoever
- There was no transparency whatsoever in the selection of the winner.
- call for no transparency
- No one is calling for no transparency; they want more of it.
- complete lack of transparency
- The audit revealed a complete lack of transparency at the agency.
- no transparency about costs
- Customers were given no transparency about the extra costs.
Synonyms and how they differ
- secrecy
- Secrecy means information is deliberately hidden; no transparency focuses on the absence of openness rather than active hiding.
- opacity
- A formal noun for being hard to understand or see through; it is more abstract and less common than 'no transparency'.
- lack of openness
- A close everyday equivalent, but it sounds softer and less like a criticism.
Opposites
Word family
- transparent adjective
- Open and easy to see through or understand.
- transparency noun
- The quality of being open or see-through.
- transparently adverb
- In an open, easy-to-see way, as in acted transparently.
Commonly confused: no transparency or not transparent? no transparency or nontransparent?
no transparency vs not transparent
The negative adjective is used to describe a thing or person: The process is not transparent. 'No transparency' is a noun phrase: There is no transparency.
no transparency vs nontransparent
A rare technical adjective meaning opaque; it is not used for openness in government or business.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'no transparency' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'No transparency' is a noun phrase, so it fits after 'there is' to describe a lack of openness. Option 0 wrongly uses it as an adjective after 'was', option 2 reverses the meaning, and option 3 treats it as a way of speaking.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “no transparency”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.