# brightness

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbɹaɪtnəs/ · frequency rank #13,471

## Definitions
1. The quality of being bright.
2. The perceived luminance of an object.
3. Intelligence, cleverness.

## Etymology
From Middle English bryghtnes, brightnesse, from Old English beorhtnes (“brightness, splendor”), from Proto-West Germanic *berhtnassī, equivalent to bright + -ness. Cognate with Old High German berahtnessī, berahtnessi (“brightness”).

## Easily confused with
- **brightest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brightest-vs-brightness)

## Common misspellings (15)
`bbrightness`, `birghtness`, `brgihtness`, `brigghtness`, `brighhtness`, `brighntess`, `brightenss`, `brightnes`, `brightnness`, `brightnses`, `brighttness`, `brigthness`, `brihgtness`, `brrightness`, `rbightness`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/brightness