flashlight

noun

flash·​light ˈflash-ˌlīt 

1

: a small battery-operated portable electric light

2

a

: a sudden bright artificial light used in taking photographic pictures

b

: a photograph taken by such a light

Examples of flashlight in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Prosecutors said the wounded officer’s bullet-proof vest and a flashlight worn on his vest protected him from serious injuries. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Pancho’s brother called up the leaders of the self-defense milita, and soon 200 men were combing the hills by flashlight. — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Nissan Stadium's lights dimmed with fans standing and many holding up their cell phone flashlights. — ABC News, 6 Sep. 2026

Workers do their clients’ eyelashes by that 21st-century form of candlelight – their cellphone flashlights. — Light Oriye Tamunotonye, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for flashlight

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight

Kids Definition

flashlight

noun

flash·​light ˈflash-ˌlīt 

: a small battery-operated portable electric light