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
Arthur C. DantoIn the beginning, entertainment ran more along the lines of saloons, card games and red light activities.—Jennifer Houghton
Jennifer Houghton
: 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
Gabrielle Chenault, The Tennessean, 19 Aug. 2025
Several studies have revealed that households in majority-Black and Latino ZIP codes receive tickets from red-light and speed cameras at a rate roughly twice that of households in white areas.
—Willie Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
What To Know Also high on the list was Oregon, with its strict driving laws and some of the highest fines in the country for running a red light or not wearing a seat belt.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for red-light
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
The amenity village will also be home to Hale House, where residents can expect to indulge in a state-of-the-art fitness center designed in partnership with Technogym, a thermal spa with hot pools and cold plunge, infrared sauna, steam room, red-light therapy, and numerous treatment rooms.
—Gabrielle Chenault, The Tennessean, 19 Aug. 2025
Several studies have revealed that households in majority-Black and Latino ZIP codes receive tickets from red-light and speed cameras at a rate roughly twice that of households in white areas.
—Willie Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
The license plate readers are not used for traffic violations, such as speeding or red light violations, Murdock said.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
What To Know Also high on the list was Oregon, with its strict driving laws and some of the highest fines in the country for running a red light or not wearing a seat belt.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for red-light
Cite this Entry
“Red-light.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red-light. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share