1
a
: light coming or produced from the side
b
: incidental light or information
2
: the red light on the port bow or the green light on the starboard bow carried by ships underway at night
Examples of sidelight in a Sentence
The book includes some amusing sidelights about his childhood.
Recent Examples on the Web
The front door features sidelights and a five-pane transom window while black shutters and crisp white trim contrast nicely with the siding, said Sonia Peck, who is handling the sale of this home with Brigitte Richter, both of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty.
—
James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
This entryway also has a transom window and a sidelight that will wash the small space in the sun.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Oct. 2025
As the City of North Chicago prepares to begin environmental remediation of the 41-acre Sheridan Crossing property at the northwest corner of Sheridan Road and Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, video gaming will become a sidelight for businesses rather than a primary revenue source.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Distinctive elements: Original stone cabin built in 1790; parlor added in 1810; on the National Register as the Daniel Rudy House; original arched fan and sidelights at front door made of blue glass.
—Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sidelight
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James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
This entryway also has a transom window and a sidelight that will wash the small space in the sun.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Oct. 2025
As the City of North Chicago prepares to begin environmental remediation of the 41-acre Sheridan Crossing property at the northwest corner of Sheridan Road and Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, video gaming will become a sidelight for businesses rather than a primary revenue source.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Distinctive elements: Original stone cabin built in 1790; parlor added in 1810; on the National Register as the Daniel Rudy House; original arched fan and sidelights at front door made of blue glass.
—Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sidelight
Cite this Entry
“Sidelight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sidelight. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sidelight
noun
side·light
-ˌlīt 
1
: light from the side
2
: incidental or extra information
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