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 of red-light

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

Many San Diego County cities have removed their red-light camera systems in recent years, but ones remain in Del Mar and Solana Beach. —Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026

The multiple red-light wavelengths help reduce inflammation, calming redness from clusters of pimples. —Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 12 Feb. 2026

Noun

When the patient, complained of pain, infection and a hole in her chin, Magalhaes Pereira had her return and then injected her with a steroid, put her under a red light, and gave her a Brazilian antibiotic, according to the arrest report. —Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026

This reddish color, often referred to as a blood moon, happens because Earth's atmosphere scatters sunlight, allowing the longer-wavelength red light to reach the moon. —Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1878, 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