red-light

1 of 2

adjective

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Although the bill lets red-light runners off more easily, the proposal has won the support of many pedestrian and cyclist advocacy organizations in the state. Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2025 Notice an uptick in aggressive driving behaviors like red-light running, speeding, tailgating, honking and cutting off other vehicles while on the road? Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
The opening introduces her character aglow in red light, complemented by a narrated monologue, vaguely written but delivered as pure, possibly suicidal despair. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025 And though the visuals start calmly enough, with an old man puttering through a deserted city, the flashing blue, green, and red lights inject a jolt of madness that’s pushed into the surreal as the man confronts giant statue heads of the Weeknd and Moroder floating above the city. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for red-light

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1894, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of red-light was in 1849

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Red-light.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red-light. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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