sidelight

noun

side·​light ˈsīd-ˌlīt 

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

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

The front door, defined by wide pilasters and sidelights topped by a crosshead with transom windows beckons visitors to step into an impressive and welcoming entry hall. —James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2025

But the suspicions of his only daughter, Caroline, were little more than a sidelight of the trial. —Catherine Porter, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2025

French doors to the deck have large sidelights that let in abundant natural light. —James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for sidelight

• acolyte
• aconite
• allanite
• alunite
• amberlite
• ammonite
• amorite
• amphitrite
• analyte
• anchorite
• andesite
• anhydrite

Kids Definition

sidelight

noun

side·​light -ˌlīt 

1

: light from the side

2

: incidental or extra information