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Politics & Government vocabulary · Opposition and Accountability

Transparency

Meaning in politics & government, with examples

/trænsˈpærənsi/nounCore term

In politics & government, transparency means: The quality of a government or organization being open about its decisions, spending and activities, so that the public can see and check them.

In Turkish: şeffaflık, açıklık

How it is used

Used in debates on good government, public spending and elections. Officials promise greater transparency, and critics complain of a lack of transparency. The adjective is transparent: a transparent process.

Example sentences

  1. The council will publish all contracts online to increase transparency.

  2. Observers praised the transparency of the vote count.

Common collocations

  • greater transparency
  • lack of transparency
  • increase transparency
  • transparency rules
  • accountabilityThe duty of people in power to explain their decisions and actions, accept responsibility for them and face consequences if they act wrongly.
  • corruptionDishonest or illegal behaviour by people in positions of power, such as accepting bribes or using public money or office for private gain.
  • scrutinyCareful and detailed examination of something, especially the way parliament, the media or the public check the actions and decisions of the government.
  • freedom of expressionThe right to hold opinions and to share ideas and information through speech, writing, art or the media without unjustified interference by the state.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Opposition and Accountability

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