light bulb

noun

variants or lightbulb

ˈlīt-ˌbəlb 

plural light bulbs or lightbulbs

: an electric lamp: such as

a

: one in which a filament gives off light when heated to incandescence by an electric current

called also incandescent, incandescent lamp

b

: one having a coating of fluorescent material on its inner surface that emits visible light : fluorescent lamp

especially : compact fluorescent light

c

: one using LEDs to generate light

Illustration of light bulb

• 1 bulb containing gas
• 2 filament
• 3 connecting and supporting wires
• 4 exhaust tube
• 5 screw base
• 6 base contact

Examples of light bulb in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Not every world-changing invention arrives with the fame of the light bulb or the airplane. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026

Keep Light Bulbs From Sticking Outdoor light bulbs can have a knack for sticking in the socket after long periods of time, leaving you with the task of trying to unscrew a stubborn bulb without breaking the glass. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 May 2026

The Bitcoin Ticket Miner is a compact, fully standalone mining device that sits on your desk, draws less power than a light bulb, and quiEvery 10 minutes, the Bitcoin network awards a full block reward to a winning miner. —Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 26 May 2026

That’s when the light bulb popped to combine the nutrient-dense lupini beans into a high-quality durum wheat pasta. —Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for light bulb

• lightbulb

Kids Definition

lightbulb

noun

light·​bulb ˈlīt-ˌbəlb 

: an electric lamp: as

a

: one in which a filament gives off light when heated by an electric current

called also incandescent lamp

b

: fluorescent lamp