What does obviousness mean?
Obviousness is the quality of something being clear, apparent, or easy to understand without needing extensive explanation. It describes both the intellectual accessibility of an idea and, sometimes, the lack of subtlety in a statement, situation, or conclusion. In formal writing, it can be used neutrally, as in discussing why an inference should be straightforward, or critically, as when emphasizing that an outcome was too easily predictable. The noun is less common than the related adjective obvious and adverb obviously. It is useful when the focus is not simply on whether something is clear, but on the quality or degree of its clarity. The word is generally understood in both British and American English, though it sounds more formal in ordinary speech.
nounThe quality of being obvious or easy to understand, recognize, or infer. It can also refer to something that is plainly apparent or lacking subtlety.
- The quality of being obvious, clear, or readily understood.
- The quality of being plainly apparent or lacking subtlety.
"The obviousness of the solution made the puzzle less challenging than expected."
"The obviousness of the connection between the two documents was difficult for the investigators to ignore."
"Her response was delivered with such obviousness that no one mistook her meaning."
Rare; the plural is grammatical but is seldom used.
"The novel explores the obviousnesses and hidden ambiguities of everyday language."
Sometimes the most important clue is not the clue itself but the obviousness of what it points to.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of obviousness
The word was formed in English by adding the suffix -ness to obvious. Obvious comes through Latin from the Latin adjective obvius, meaning clear or evident, ultimately associated with the idea of being readily understood or lying plainly in view. Related Latin derivatives include obviate and obviation, which develop the sense of removing an obstacle or difficulty.
Related word forms
How obviousness is actually used
This is a formal and relatively uncommon noun. It is more often used in academic, analytical, or critical writing than in everyday conversation.
Easily confused with obviousness
Obviousness means the quality of being clear and readily understood, whereas obscurity means being unclear, hidden, or difficult to understand.