clarté

Clarté is a French noun (feminine) that denotes the quality of being clear or bright. In everyday use, it covers both optical brightness and transparency as well as lucidity in thought, expression, or information. The term is often employed to describe how easily something can be understood or perceived, as well as how well a visual scene can be read.

Etymology and related terms: Clarté derives from Latin claritas, via Old French clarté, related to clarus meaning clear or bright. In French, it sits alongside related concepts such as clair (clear) and transparence, each emphasizing different facets of how something is perceived or understood.

Optical sense: In visual contexts, clarté refers to readability or visibility—how clearly details can be distinguished given light, contrast, and background. It is a common criterion in design, architecture, photography, and illumination to ensure legibility and perceptual ease.

Cognitive and linguistic sense: In thinking, writing, and speaking, clarté denotes the clarity of thought and the quality of exposition. A text or speech with clarté presents ideas logically, uses precise definitions, and avoids ambiguity, contributing to effective communication and understanding.

Usage and evaluation: Clarté is a standard objective in education, journalism, science, and public discourse. Achieving clarté often involves simplifying complex concepts, organizing information coherently, and employing examples or visuals to aid comprehension.

See also: clarity, lucidity, transparency, readability. Antonyms include opacité (opacity) and confusion.