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.
Images on social media captured the moment of impact late Wednesday morning as Rodriguez was struck from behind at a traffic light by a black pickup truck. Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026 Ring roads are elevated roads without traffic lights designed to move traffic quickly in urban areas. ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026 And in January, a Waymo partially blocked a downtown San Antonio intersection, forcing other vehicles to swerve around through several cycles of the traffic light. Brandon Lingle, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Mar. 2026 In 1989, Fuesser started with a 35-minute drive down a two-lane road that had no traffic lights. John Marks, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Traffic light.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traffic%20light. Accessed 5 Apr. 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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