In graphic design, legibility means: How easily individual letters and words can be recognised, which depends on the typeface design, size, contrast and viewing conditions.
In Turkish: okunaklılık, seçilebilirlik
How it is used
Used in critiques, signage, packaging and accessibility checks. Designers improve, test or worry about legibility, especially at small sizes, on coloured backgrounds or from a distance.
Example sentences
The thin script font looks beautiful, but its legibility on the menu board is poor.
We tested the legibility of the signs from ten metres away.
Common collocations
improve legibility
poor legibility
legibility at small sizes
test legibility
Related terms
contrastA clear difference between elements, for example dark and light, big and small or thick and thin, used to attract attention and make text and shapes easy to see.
x-heightThe height of the lowercase letters in a typeface, such as x, measured from the baseline and not counting the parts that go above or below, like in ‘h’ or ‘p’.
trackingThe overall spacing between letters across a whole word, line or paragraph, adjusted evenly to make text look looser or tighter.
serifA small line or foot at the end of the strokes of a letter, as in Times or Garamond. A typeface with these details is also called a serif.
