Illustration of light bulb
- 1 bulb containing gas
- 2 filament
- 3 connecting and supporting wires
- 4 exhaust tube
- 5 screw base
- 6 base contact
light bulb
noun
variants
or lightbulb
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
Examples of light bulb in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There was one sort of heating stove and then a naked light bulb.
—
Sacha Pfeiffer, NPR, 22 July 2025
The British were busy inventing antibiotics, the steam engine, the jet engine, the radio and television, the light bulb, and the internet.
—Tom Shattuck, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 June 2025
Old and extra light bulbs seem to always end up in a box on a garage shelf, wasting storage space that could be used for other items.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2025
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, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for light bulb
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.
Sacha Pfeiffer, NPR, 22 July 2025
The British were busy inventing antibiotics, the steam engine, the jet engine, the radio and television, the light bulb, and the internet.
—Tom Shattuck, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 June 2025
Old and extra light bulbs seem to always end up in a box on a garage shelf, wasting storage space that could be used for other items.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2025
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, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for light bulb
Cite this Entry
“Light bulb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/light%20bulb. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share