penumbra

noun

pen·um·bra pə-ˈnəm-brə

plural penumbrae pə-ˈnəm-(ˌ)brē

-ˌbrī

or penumbras

: a space of partial illumination (as in an eclipse) between the perfect shadow on all sides and the full light

: a shaded region surrounding the dark central portion of a sunspot

: a surrounding or adjoining region in which something exists in a lesser degree : fringe

the seventeenth century lay in the penumbra of the middle ages

Edward Eggleston

: a body of rights held to be guaranteed by implication in a civil constitution

the penumbra of the Bill of Rights

: something that covers, surrounds, or obscures : shroud

a penumbra of secrecy

a penumbra of somber dignity has descended over his reputation

James Atlas

penumbral

pə-ˈnəm-brəl

adjective

Did you know?

Every solar eclipse casts an umbra, the darker central area in which almost no light reaches the earth, and a penumbra, the area of partial shadow where part of the sun is still visible. Penumbra can thus be used to describe any "gray area" where things aren't all black and white. For example, the right to privacy falls under the penumbra of the U.S. Constitution; though it isn't specifically guaranteed there, the Supreme Court has held that it is implied, and thus that the government may not intrude into certain areas of a citizen's private life. Because its existence is still shadowy, however, the Court is still determining how much of an individual's life is protected by the right to privacy.

Example Sentences

the lunar eclipse began with a subtle darkening of the lunar surface as it passed within the Earth's penumbra a penumbra of despair fell over the doomed city

Recent Examples on the Web The penumbra of rigor and respectability that drew people to her in the first place has been ruined by her own actions.

Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 19 Nov. 2022 The penumbra of funk used to extend across Seventh Street — visually, not just sonically.

Kriston Capps, Washington Post, 12 Oct. 2022 This is from the Earth’s lighter shadow, called the penumbra, that is barely visible to the naked eye.

Dean Regas, The Enquirer, 10 May 2022 The whole moon is in Earth’s penumbra, but the dimming is subtle.

Leigh Morgan, al, 15 May 2022 In eastern Wisconsin the spectacle is scheduled to begin at 8:32 p.m. Sunday when the edge of the Earth's shadow, or penumbra, starts touching the moon.

Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 14 May 2022 As Picasso’s palette became more relentlessly monochromatic, space itself seemed to squeeze these figures into more compressed forms, containing them with a dark penumbra of rich blue, as if the world could not allow them even a little air or light.

Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2022 There’s a whole penumbra of horrible things that happen after.

Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2021 This is made up of the time when the Moon hits the penumbra and umbra.

Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 17 Nov. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'penumbra.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.