Visibility means how well you can see things, or how easily something can be seen. When fog rolls in thick and heavy, visibility drops: you might only be able to see a few feet ahead instead of miles down the road. Pilots pay close attention to visibility before takeoff, and weather forecasters report it to help people drive safely.

The word also describes how noticeable or prominent something is. A business wants visibility in the community so customers know it exists. An author gains visibility when her books appear in bookstores and get reviewed. When you raise your hand eagerly in class, you increase your visibility to the teacher.

In a broader sense, visibility means being seen and recognized for who you are. People who feel invisible at school or in their community want more visibility: they want others to notice them, hear their ideas, and include them. Scientists talk about giving visibility to important problems that people might otherwise ignore. When something has good visibility, it stands out and gets the attention it deserves, whether that's a lighthouse warning ships at night or a student's hard work finally being recognized.