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klieg light

noun

variants or less commonly kleig light
: a carbon arc lamp used especially formerly in making movies
often now used figuratively
By issuing the code, Chief Justice Roberts may well have turned off, or at least lowered the intensity of, those klieg lights of public scrutiny.Bill Newman

Examples of klieg light in a Sentence

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.
Payton was meant for a blue blood organization like the Broncos, suited for the klieg lights. Troy Renck, Denver Post, 30 Oct. 2025 But only half of the leaders surveyed feel comfortable communicating their progress publicly, resulting in many companies shrinking away from making public sustainability statements amid intensifying political and public klieg lights. Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 8 Oct. 2025 The Oscars have always been Hollywood’s most glamorous therapy session, where the industry lays bare its collective psyche under the klieg lights of the red carpet. Clayton Davis, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025 The Santor scam, which plays into the global arms race around tax incentives, shines a klieg light on the often opaque realm of film finance. Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for klieg light

Word History

Etymology

John H. Kliegl †1959 & Anton T. Kliegl †1927 German-born American lighting experts

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of klieg light was in 1919

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Klieg light.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/klieg%20light. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

klieg light

noun
variants or kleig light
: a very bright lamp used in taking motion pictures

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