Refractivity refers to the ability of a substance to bend light as it passes through it. Some synonyms for this term include index of refraction, optical density, and refractive index. The refractive index is a measure of the bending of light in a material, which is affected by the speed of light in that material. Materials with a higher refractive index, such as diamond, create more bending of light than those with a lower refractive index, such as air. Understanding refractivity and its synonyms is essential in a variety of fields, including optics, photography, and material science, among others.