traffic light

noun

: a visual signal (such as a system of colored lights) for controlling traffic

Examples of traffic light in a Sentence

Take a left at the traffic light.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Many crashes happened while Tesla vehicles were stationary, waiting at traffic lights, stop signs or in slow traffic. Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026 And the Waymo fleet in San Francisco descended into chaos when a power outage left the streets without working traffic lights last December. Frank Landymore, Futurism, 13 May 2026 These choices function like a traffic light. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 12 May 2026 In 2023, a trucker failed to stop quickly enough while approaching a red traffic light on a northeast Georgia highway, causing a four-vehicle crash, according to court records. Max Blau, ProPublica, 11 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for traffic light

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of traffic light was in 1912

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Cite this Entry

“Traffic light.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traffic%20light. Accessed 17 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

traffic light

noun
: a visual signal (as a system of green, yellow, and red lights) for controlling traffic

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