luminosity

L1U1M3I1N1O1S1I1T1Y4

noun

the state of being luminous, or a luminous object; brilliance or radiance

Less commonScrabble 15

Meanings

nounluminosity (countable and uncountable, plural luminosities)

plural luminosities

  1. uncountablethe state of being luminous, or a luminous object; brilliance or radiance

    They reported encountering a luminosity of great intensity and loving angelic beings.

    1994, Simcha Paull Raphael, Jewish Views of the Afterlife, page 360
  2. countableuncountablenatural sciencesthe ratio of luminous flux to radiant flux at the same wavelength; the luminosity factor
  3. countableuncountableastronomyThe rate at which a star radiates energy in all directions.

    We recognize the same pattern as in the left panel, with dM stars being much less frequent flarers than dMe stars of similar luminosity.

    2012, O. Havnes, B. R. Pettersen, J. H. M. M. Schmitt, Activity in Cool Star Envelopes: Proceedings, page 56
    1 more example

    We derive rotation periods, photometric activity indices, flaring energies, mass loss rates, gyrochronological ages, X-ray luminosities and consider implications for the planetary magnetospheres and habitability.

    2015, D. J. Armstrong, C. E. Pugh, A.-M. Broomhall, D. J. A. Brown, M. N. Lund, H. P. Osborn, D. L. Pollacco, “The Host Stars of Keplers Habitable Exoplanets: Superflares, Rotation and Activity”, in arXiv

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Frenchluminosité
  2. Englishluminosity

Borrowed from French luminosité or else a native formation from luminous + -ity.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Esperanto lumeco
  • lumecostate of being luminous
Finnish valoisuus, luminositeetti
  • valoisuusstate of being luminous
  • luminositeettiratio of luminous to radiant flux
  • säteilytehoratio of luminous to radiant flux
  • luminositeettirate at which a star radiates energy
  • säteilytehorate at which a star radiates energy
French luminosité
  • luminositéstate of being luminous
German Helligkeit, Leuchtkraft
  • Helligkeitstate of being luminous
  • Leuchtkraftratio of luminous to radiant flux
  • Leuchtkraftrate at which a star radiates energy
Greek αντιφέγγισμα, φωτεινότητα
  • αντιφέγγισμα (antiféngisma)state of being luminous
  • φωτεινότητα (foteinótita)ratio of luminous to radiant flux
  • φωτεινότητα (foteinótita)rate at which a star radiates energy
Indonesian kilau
  • kilaustate of being luminous
Italian luminosità, luminosità
  • luminositàstate of being luminous
  • luminositàratio of luminous to radiant flux
  • luminositàrate at which a star radiates energy
Korean 발광성
  • 발광성 (balgwangseong)state of being luminous
Norwegian Bokmål luminositet
  • luminositetrate at which a star radiates energy
Polish świetlność, luminancja
  • świetlnośćstate of being luminous
  • luminancjaratio of luminous to radiant flux
  • luminancjarate at which a star radiates energy
Romanian luminozitate
  • luminozitatestate of being luminous
Russian свечение, свети́мость
  • свечение (svečenije)state of being luminous
  • свети́мость (svetímostʹ)rate at which a star radiates energy
Spanish luminosidad, luminosidad
  • luminosidadstate of being luminous
  • luminosidadrate at which a star radiates energy
Turkish parlaklık, kadir
  • parlaklıkstate of being luminous
  • kadirrate at which a star radiates energy
Ukrainian сві́тність
  • сві́тність (svítnistʹ)rate at which a star radiates energy

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with luminosity

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

luminosity. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/luminosity

MLA

“luminosity.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/luminosity. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “luminosity,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/luminosity.

Source: luminosity on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.