traffic light

noun

: a visual signal (such as a system of colored lights) for controlling traffic

Examples of traffic light in a Sentence

Take a left at the traffic light.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Detective Samuel Gee testified that license plate scanners, which are placed near some traffic lights in West Sacramento, identified the suspect vehicle. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025 In addition to a healthy contingent of federal firefighters, federal workers from the departments of agriculture, the interior, and others have a strong presence in the town, which has a lone blinking stop-and-go traffic light and no parking meters. David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025 There's traffic lights; there's Red Line buses. Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025 Where residents work hard to protect the dark sky from urban light intrusion, and where there is not one traffic light. Mandi Wright, Freep.com, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for traffic light

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of traffic light was in 1912

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Traffic light.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traffic%20light. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

traffic light

noun
: a visual signal (as a system of green, yellow, and red lights) for controlling traffic

More from Merriam-Webster on traffic light

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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