neon

noun ne·on \ ˈnē-ˌän \

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Definition of neon

1 : a colorless odorless mostly inert gaseous element that is found in minute amounts in air and is used in electric lamps — 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

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neoned

play \ˈnē-ˌänd\ adjective

See neon defined for English-language learners

See neon defined for kids

Recent Examples of neon from the Web

There are other, more subtle overlaps worth noting: floral motifs, pops of neon, unexpected variations of proportion and volume, heavy-duty hardware.

— noah johnson, GQ, "Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Alyx Plot the Future of Menswear," 27 June 2018
Seventeen models, all people of color, opened the show wearing all-white looks, followed by more in neon, tie-dye, and elaborate prints — some of which were pulled straight out of The Wizard of Oz.

— emilia petrarca, The Cut, "Hugging Is the Coolest Thing You Can Do Right Now," 21 June 2018
Next to the faultlessly regal pyramids of Egypt, the Tron section was aglow in neon, which offered ample shadow and backlight for all sorts of secret activities.

— michael dumas, AL.com, "Show Us Your Mardi Gras Gowns: LaShe's embark on an 'Underwater Fantasy'," 7 Feb. 2018
With use of synth-heavy melodies and plenty of neon, the band is no doubt a stellar addition to this wave of ’80s revivalism.

— efrain dorado, RedEye Chicago, "5 must-see concerts in Chicago this week: Mother Nature, Vesperteen, Paul Cherry," 12 Dec. 2017
The dispensaries — 364 — are plentiful and some are instantly recognizable with green neon lights, green crosses and ubiquitous marijuana leaves.

— kathleen gray, Detroit Free Press, "What Michigan needs to learn from Colorado's legalized marijuana," 12 July 2018
There are multiple ways to rock this DIY idea, but one method could involve cutting a piece of neon yellow poster board and then using string to hang it around your neck.

— elizabeth denton, Seventeen, "14 Genius Group Halloween Costume Ideas for You and Your Squad," 6 July 2018
For $38, visitors move through a dreamlike sequence of rooms, encountering neon lights, a ball pit and a hall of sparkling streamers.

— lara korte, WSJ, "Pop-up ‘Museums’ Are Instagram Fans’ Favorite Place to Pose," 5 July 2018
The highway was decommissioned in 1985, replaced by the Federal Interstate Highway System, but historians and travelers have kept its memory as well as its culture of roadside diners, neon lights and tourist traps alive.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Route 66 and 10 Other Sites That Made the 2018 “Most Endangered Historic Places” List," 26 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'neon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of neon

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

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).

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1898

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

neon

adjective

Definition of neon

1 : of, relating to, or using neon

2 : extremely bright : fluorescent

neon yellow

See neon defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of neon from the Web

Simmons recently posted a video on his Instagram story of a hand with neon orange nails rubbing his Nike sneakers.

— isabel greenberg, Harper's BAZAAR, "Kendall Jenner and Ben Simmons Were Spotted Cozying Up Together on the 4th of July," 5 July 2018
The party kicks off at 7:45 p.m., meaning glow sticks and neon body paint will light the way through your downtown course.

— carly graf, Outside Online, "10 Fun Runs to Sign Up for This Summer," 22 May 2018
Even in Las Vegas, a scorching sea of neon signs and strange creatures, his never-ending arms draw gawks.

— San Antonio Express-News, "The Bamba Project is still in early stages," 11 July 2018
An unidentified teenager has been accused of breaking the front window and historic neon sign of New York’s Stonewall Inn, a popular landmark in the LGBTQ community.

— jajuan m. morris-guity, Fox News, "Stonewall Inn window and neon sign vandalized, officials say not a hate crime," 10 July 2018
From there, electrodes are attached to both ends to create a neon sign.

— jessica christian, SFChronicle.com, "Glass bender melds art, science to create and restore neon signs," 9 July 2018
Inside patrons will notice a sports bar feel with at least six large television sets, wooden floors, wooden tables, a bar and neon signs.

— sheryl devore, Lake County News-Sun, "Guide to outdoor dining in Chicago suburbs: Docks Bar and Grill in Wauconda," 6 July 2018
The warning signs — the bright, flashing, neon warning signs — materialized early for Tommy Chang, and some part of him seemed to know it.

— adrian walker, BostonGlobe.com, "Another BPS superintendent has come and gone. Now what?," 1 July 2018
Offered in a variety of sizes and neon-bright colors, these retroreflective, weatherproof stripes are designed from materials similar to road signs to keep you safe around cars—and flaunt your personality to boot.

— nick davidson, Outside Online, "8 Pieces of Bike Gear to Keep You Safe on Your Commute," 23 May 2018

First Known Use of neon

1904

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

NEON Defined for English Language Learners

neon

noun

Definition of neon for English Language Learners

: a type of gas that is used in brightly colored electric signs and lights

neon

adjective

Definition of neon for English Language Learners

: using neon
: extremely bright

NEON Defined for Kids

neon

noun ne·on \ ˈnē-ˌän \

Definition of neon for Students

: a colorless gaseous chemical element found in very small amounts in the air and used in electric lights

Medical Dictionary

neon

noun ne·on \ ˈnē-ˌän \

medical Definition of neon

: a colorless odorless primarily inert gaseous element found in minute amounts in air and used in electric lamps —symbol Ne — see Chemical Elements Table