red-light

1 of 2

adjective

ˈred-ˈlīt 

variants or less commonly red light

: relating to or being an area with many brothels or sex workers

Just inside the entrance to "Picasso Érotique," the exhibition's designer has recreated an imagined bordello bedroom as one might have existed in the red-light district of Barcelona in the era of Picasso's youth.

—Arthur C. Danto

In the beginning, entertainment ran more along the lines of saloons, card games and red light activities.

—Jennifer Houghton

red light

2 of 2

noun

: a warning signal

especially : a red traffic signal

Synonyms

Noun

• warning
• red flag
• sign
• handwriting on the wall

Examples of red-light in a Sentence

Noun

the reporter took her glower as a red light and stopped asking questions

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Transit administrators acknowledged shortcomings with the Metro Express rollout and said the red-light issue is high on the list of glitches that need to be fixed. —Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025

At 11:00, scalps are being taken, and the unsettling thought arises that Kat has decided to sear the insomnia out of me with a red-light all-nighter. —Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025

Noun

The vehicle headed toward 291 Highway, running through a red light. —Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025

Buses receive priority at intersections during other times but will still hit some red lights. —Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1894, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1849, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for red-light

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