searchlight

noun

search·​light ˈsərch-ˌlīt How to pronounce searchlight (audio)
: an apparatus for projecting a powerful beam of light
also : a beam of light projected by it

Examples of searchlight in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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There is the Lichtdom, or Cathedral of Light—more than a hundred searchlights beaming columns of light into the sky—creating an elevated sense of ceremony and import. Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026 Kim Il-hyeok turned on a searchlight, and a South Korean Navy ship glided towards them. Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026 Second, there are the dual searchlight-like rays emerging from both sides of this nebula. Big Think, 11 Feb. 2026 That’s why submarine searchlights and deep-sea cameras also favor blue. IEEE Spectrum, 18 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for searchlight

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of searchlight was in 1883

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Cite this Entry

“Searchlight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/searchlight. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

searchlight

noun
search·​light ˈsərch-ˌlīt How to pronounce searchlight (audio)
: a device for casting a beam of light
also : a beam of light cast by it

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