tea light

noun

variants or less commonly tealight

ˈtē-ˌlīt 

or tea light candle or tealight candle

plural tea lights also tealights or tea light candles or tealight candles

: a small cylindrical candle that is usually less than 1 inch in height and that is usually set in a holder (as of metal or plastic)

Tiny tea lights float on water in the tub in the darkened bathroom.

—Jura Koncius

We like this ceramic fondue pot that uses a simple tea light candle to keep the cheese melty and delicious.

—Holly Hanchey

also : a battery-operated artificial candle of similar size and shape

You could create a whole miniature village of houses, each one with a battery-powered tealight inside.

—Emily Dawe

—sometimes hyphenated before another noun

… clever tea-light holders that feature a slot to accommodate a match.

—Rob Walker

Examples of tea light in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, the 46-year-old Los Angeles resident organized a vigil Tuesday night at a local park, where the photos of slain protesters were displayed and dozens of Iranian Americans lit candles and took turns hopping over tea lights in a version of a fire-jumping tradition known as Chaharshanbe Suri. —Amy Taxin, Arkansas Online, 20 Mar. 2026

Instead, the 46-year-old Los Angeles resident organized a vigil Tuesday night at a local park, where the photos of slain protesters were displayed and dozens of Iranian Americans lit candles and took turns hopping over tea lights in a version of a fire-jumping tradition known as Chaharshanbe Suri. —ABC News, 18 Mar. 2026

Add a tiny tea light inside for a touch of spring mood lighting. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2026

The bar’s back patio was decked out with tea lights and potted palm plants. —A.r. Carter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026

Other options include tea light holders or solar lights for your outdoor area. —Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026

Many held tea lights as political, religious and community leaders paid tribute to those affected by ICE activities and called for solidarity and resistance against the agency's tactics. —Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 31 Jan. 2026

Gently sand one edge of the electric tea light. —Cody Godwin, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025

Attendees placed tea lights on the field forming the number 5—Turner’s number. —Brian Robin, Oc Register, 2 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

so called from the use of such candles to keep a pot of tea hot

First Known Use

1978, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tea light

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight