lighthouse

noun

light·​house ˈlīt-ˌhau̇s 

1

: a structure (such as a tower) with a powerful light that gives a continuous or intermittent signal to navigators

2

: beacon sense 2

Illustration of lighthouse

• lighthouse 1

Examples of lighthouse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Facts about elephant seals—a bull’s responsibility to impregnate his harem of females, birthing and nursing—though presented scientifically, put the children in a state of wild glee that a thousand-year-old redwood tree or a century-old lighthouse could not induce. —Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026

In addition to the view, the museum includes belongings, photos and memories of the lighthouse keepers and their families. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026

As the pulsar spins, these beams sweep across the cosmos like the beams of light from a lighthouse. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Feb. 2026

Travel + Leisure said that the lighthouses on Block Island are visual treats to behold. —Rin Velasco, The Providence Journal, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lighthouse

• alehouse
• almshouse
• backhouse
• baghouse
• bakehouse
• bathhouse
• bauhaus
• blockhouse
• boathouse
• brewhouse
• bunkhouse
• clubhouse

Kids Definition

lighthouse

noun

light·​house -ˌhau̇s 

: a tower with a powerful light at the top that is built on or near the shore to guide sailors at night