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

Apple has repurposed its physical mute button on the side of its high-end models into a more customizable tool, allowing users to carry out a handful of commands, from recording a voice memo and taking a picture to turning on the flashlight. —Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN, 19 Sep. 2023

The Action Button, which replaces the ring / vibrate switch, can be programmed to do things like activating the camera, turning on the flashlight, starting a Voice Memo, opening a note, switching Focus modes, or running your own custom shortcuts. —Emma Roth, The Verge, 13 Sep. 2023

Police say the rifle has a scope and flashlight mounted on top. —Adam Sabes, Fox News, 13 Sep. 2023

If the light mentioned in the title refers to subtle gradations on a spectrum, the light in the limited series is like having somebody activate their iPhone flashlight app in your eyes. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Sep. 2023

Under covers with a flashlight, when I was supposed to be asleep. —John Archibald | [e-mail], al, 5 Sep. 2023

Ngoc McShane moved swiftly, armed with a flashlight, thermometer and pen. —Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2023

Paul Hudson, a West Point archaeologist, turned on a flashlight, illuminating the capsule’s dark recesses. —Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Sep. 2023

Once inside the library, both women went behind the librarian’s desk, using a phone’s flashlight to look through books. —Michael Williams, Dallas News, 24 Aug. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Kids Definition

flashlight

noun

flash·​light ˈflash-ˌlīt 

: a small battery-operated portable electric light