lowlight

noun

low·​light ˈlō-ˌlīt 

plural lowlights

1

: a particularly bad or unpleasant event, detail, or part

2

: an area of the hair made a darker color (as through the application of chemical substances)

—usually plural

And his last rule of thumb is to start with a neutral, all-over color—without it, your highlights and lowlights won't pop.

—Rachel Nussbaum

Examples of lowlight in a Sentence

That meal turned out to be one of the lowlights of our vacation.

Recent Examples on the Web

The turnover was the lowlight of what, on the surface, looked to be a lackluster second outing for Mendoza. — Sam Warren, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

On Watch What Happens Live, Andy Cohen quizzed Hiller on some career lowlights, including a diarrhea story that didn’t involve cyclospora but did name-drop Sam Mendes. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 July 2026

What to Ask for at the Salon Since French blending relies on precise placement of highlights and lowlights, it’s generally best left to a professional colorist. — Colleen Sullivan, InStyle, 16 July 2026

Ahead, look back on the standout highlights and lowlights from the three-hour ceremony. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lowlight

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight