neon

1 of 2

noun

ne·​on ˈnē-ˌän 

1

: a nonmetallic chemical element that is found in minute amounts in air and is used especially in electric lamps, in lasers, and as a cryogenic refrigerant see Chemical Elements Table

2

a

: a discharge lamp in which the gas contains a large proportion of neon

b

: a sign composed of such lamps

c

: the illumination provided by such lamps or signs

neoned

ˈnē-ˌänd 

adjective

neon

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or using neon

2

: extremely bright : fluorescent

neon yellow

Examples of neon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The site is five miles long and a mile wide at some points, steel frames jut from the ground, heavy machinery operates around the clock, and an endless stream of trucks pours in before sunrise, feeding a project where thousands of workers in hardhats and neon vests swarm. —Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026

News reports gleefully described his six houses, his sixteen Chinese servants, his lavish parties, his $2,000 cashmere suits, and his twelve cars—one of which was a champagne-pink Cadillac with his name splashed across the side in neon lights. —Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026

Adjective

These vibrant, almost neon underpaintings have the effect of direct sunlight: jarring, but life-giving. —Grace Edquist, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2025

With its neon Japanese signage, the area feels a bit like Tokyo’s Akihabara neighborhood, known for its busy storefronts selling electronics, anime merch, and video games. —Mae Hamilton, AFAR Media, 1 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Greek néon, neuter of néos "young, fresh, new" — more at new entry 1

Note: Name given to the gas by its discoverers, the British chemists William Ramsay (1852-1916) and Morris William Travers (1872-1961) in "On the Companion of Argon," Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, vol. 63 (1898), p. 438. According to a later account by Travers, the Latin name novum, "new," for the gas was suggested by William Ramsay's 13-year old son, and rendered in Greek by Ramsay to match the names of other recently discovered gases (see Morris W. Travers, The Discovery of the Rare Gases, London, 1928, p. 96).

First Known Use

Noun

1898, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1904, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for neon

• dione
• freon
• actaeon

Kids Definition

neon

1 of 2 noun

ne·​on ˈnē-ˌän 

1

: a colorless odorless gaseous element found in very small amounts in air and used in electric lamps see element

2

a

: a lamp in which the gas contains a large amount of neon that gives a reddish glow when a current is passed through it

b

: a sign composed of such lamps

neon

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or using neon

neon lights

2

: extremely bright : fluorescent

neon yellow

Medical Definition

neon

noun

ne·​on ˈnē-ˌän 

: a colorless odorless primarily inert gaseous element found in minute amounts in air and used in electric lamps

—symbol Ne see Chemical Elements Table