backlight

noun

back·​light ˈbak-ˌlīt How to pronounce backlight (audio)
: illumination from behind
also : the source of such illumination
backlight transitive verb

Examples of backlight in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There is a small snail on its face, and its display also includes a backlight. Max Berlinger, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023 The battery lasts for weeks, there's a warm backlight for easier nighttime reading, and recharging is handled via USB-C. Gear Team, WIRED, 11 Oct. 2023 Note that this Kindle is not waterproof, and the backlight doesn't have warmth or automatic adjustment. Gear Team, WIRED, 11 Oct. 2023 And the view through the backlight is largely obscured by dour velvet drapes. John Phillips, Car and Driver, 26 Aug. 2023 The other side of the booth features an infrared backlight and a rather rigid-looking bench to restrict the user into the display's 3D sweet spot and to limit the scope of the whole avatar-generation system. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 13 Oct. 2022 The Kindle has a backlight for reading in the dark and is glare-free for reading outdoors. Jessica Comstock, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 May 2023 The glass rear window, unlike plastic backlights, provides a clear view and good defrosting. Larry Griffin, Car and Driver, 27 July 2023 Its keyboard also comes with an individually programmable RGB backlight, and its trackball-style pointing device has been downsized to fit into the smaller design. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 15 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'backlight.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of backlight was in 1822

Dictionary Entries Near backlight

Cite this Entry

“Backlight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backlight. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.

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