Is partial obscuration considered a ceiling?

In aviation terminology, a ceiling is defined as the lowest layer of clouds or obscuring phenomena that is reported as being either broken or overcast. Partial obscuration refers to clouds or visibility impairments that do not cover the entirety of the sky or horizon; instead, they only cover part of it. Because partial obscuration does not meet the criteria of a complete cloud layer that represents visibility limitations to pilots, it is not classified as a ceiling.

Understanding this definition is crucial for flight planning and safety, as ceilings play a significant role in determining whether the sky is suitable for visual flight rules (VFR) operations. If there is only partial obscuration, pilots may still have sufficient visual references to navigate safely, which further reinforces why it is not recognized as a ceiling.