Red Light Definition & Meaning

American

British

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms red light 1 American

noun

1. a red lamp, used as a traffic signal to mean “stop.”

2. an order or directive to halt an action, project, etc..

   There's a red light on all unnecessary expenses.

3. a children's running game in which players must stop when “Red light!” is called.

4. a signal of danger; warning.

red-light 2 American [red-lahyt] / ˈrɛdˈlaɪt /

verb (used with object)

red-lighted, red-lighting

1. Informal. to stop or deter by means of or as if with a red light.

red light British

noun

1. a signal to stop, esp a red traffic signal in a system of traffic lights

2. a danger signal

3. an instruction to stop or discontinue

4. 1. a red lamp in a window of or outside a house indicating that it is a brothel

   2. ( as modifier )

      a red-light district

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of red light1

First recorded in 1840–50

Origin of red-light2

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Police departments across the region have pointed to a pattern of speeding, red light violations, and minors riding illegal electric motorcycles, and several cities have responded with new ordinances and stepped-up enforcement.

From Los Angeles Times

To supplement the noise, it has flashing red lights and a bed-shaking puck for under the mattress or pillow.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It’s sunset here, and I only have red lights in my house,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Everyone jumped and turned to look at the flashing red light on the wall.

From Literature

If you're using a phone app to locate planets, enable the red light feature, because "the red light won't affect your night vision as much as a bright white light would."

From BBC

Related Words

• traffic signal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.