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

People obsessively worked on light bulbs and the systems that powered them, finding little improvements year after year. —Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026

The glitch means that drivers in the seat of a 2024 or 2025 ‘Vette wouldn’t realize if their turn signals’ light bulbs failed to turn on. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2026

The beetle manages to grab a leaf and right herself again before climbing its green surface to discover the call of a new light bulb. —María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026

From here, all that’s left to pick out are the light bulbs. —Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 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