I really dont know if there is an actual difference. I feel so dumb right now. Haha.
In: Physics
“Colourless” means that it doesn’t have a colour. “Transparent” means that you can see through it. You can have transparent things that have colour (beer bottles, for example) and you can have colourless things that aren’t transparent (a black or a white piece of paper).
This definition may not be universal, but this is the difference as it occurs in my line of work, which is in process and product development of chemicals for the paper, packaging, and textiles industry.
Something is “colorless” if there is no absorption or reflection of light through the substance.
Something is “translucent” if light can pass completely through it.
Something is “clear” if light can pass through it without any visible particulates or interference.
Something is “transparent” if it is both “colorless” and “clear” if it is “colorless” and “translucent” but not “clear” then it is either “hazy” or “dispersed”
As a word:
Colorless answers the unsaid question “What color is it?”
Transparent answers the unsaid question “Can you see through it?”
A stained glass window is both transparent *and* coloured.
A normal window is transparent and colourless.
A wine bottle is transparent *and* coloured.
A water bottle is transparent and (usually) colourless.
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