neon

1 of 2

noun

ne·​on ˈnē-ˌän How to pronounce neon (audio)
1
: a nonmetallic chemical element that is found in minute amounts in air and is used especially in electric lamps, in lasers, and as a cryogenic refrigerant see Chemical Elements Table
2
a
: a discharge lamp in which the gas contains a large proportion of neon
b
: a sign composed of such lamps
c
: the illumination provided by such lamps or signs
neoned adjective

neon

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of, relating to, or using neon
2
: extremely bright : fluorescent
neon yellow

Examples of neon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
There were the no-tell motels with the blinking neon signs on Ventura Boulevard. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 Production added the infamous neon sign for the show, and the building has since been given a fresh coat of green paint. Katie Rife, EW.com, 16 Mar. 2024 Three flickering neon signs on metal stands in the latest edition of the Whitney Biennial, poised at the west end of the museum’s fifth floor, crystallize this question. Martha Schwendener, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Belonging perfectly amid all this Rottweiler Americana — gun clubs, chain-link fences and neon signs that fizz like lightning bugs — there’s Kristen Stewart in a skeevy mullet and a sleeveless tee playing gym manager Lou. Jessica Kiang, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 While Hailey stood out in a neon yellow argyle sweater, Justin wore a black scarf wrapped around his head underneath a gray hooded sweatshirt. Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024 The Kung Fu Panda films are like a neon sign of a yin and yang, a fragile balance of philosophy and fat jokes. Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 There are poignant quotes from philosophers and figurines inspired by The Buddha, while neon lights cast a pinkish hue throughout the space and loud rock music fills the air. Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024 It’s decorated with neon signs that nod to the work of artist Tracey Emin. Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 3 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Fruity Sandwich cookies from Kroger were blindingly neon and surprisingly tasty. Hallie Lieberman, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2022 Instead of a Torah ark, the crates face a pink-and-green neon sign: a cricket inside a heart. Anna Kordunsky, The New Yorker, 28 May 2020 On a normal night, storefronts light up the street with neon signs, beckoning customers with promises of trinkets or ice cold beer. Laura Schulte, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 22 May 2020 The building’s other neon sign is attached to the side and advertises the parking spaces. Jon Arnold, Dallas News, 8 May 2020 While Death Stranding might as well explain itself with giant neon signs, its themes and setting are eerily prescient right now. Ars Staff, Ars Technica, 25 Apr. 2020 Piece by piece, the Prescott Valley Motel neon sign that glowed for decades was taken down by a crane this month, making way for a Circle K gas station to open where the motel once stood. Kimi Robinson, azcentral, 14 Apr. 2020 Mayor London Breed joined more than 400 people at Islais Creek Park in the morning and rallied the crowd in their neon orange vests. Lauren Hernández, SFChronicle.com, 21 Sep. 2019 Obviously enjoying Labor Day weekend, Kim also shared a photo of North hanging out with her friends, all of whom coordinated their looks by wearing neon outfits. Amy MacKelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 2 Sep. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'neon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Greek néon, neuter of néos "young, fresh, new" — more at new entry 1

Note: Name given to the gas by its discoverers, the British chemists William Ramsay (1852-1916) and Morris William Travers (1872-1961) in "On the Companion of Argon," Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, vol. 63 (1898), p. 438. According to a later account by Travers, the Latin name novum, "new," for the gas was suggested by William Ramsay's 13-year old son, and rendered in Greek by Ramsay to match the names of other recently discovered gases (see Morris W. Travers, The Discovery of the Rare Gases, London, 1928, p. 96).

First Known Use

Noun

1898, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1904, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of neon was in 1898

Dictionary Entries Near neon

Cite this Entry

“Neon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neon. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

neon

1 of 2 noun
ne·​on ˈnē-ˌän How to pronounce neon (audio)
1
: a colorless odorless gaseous element found in very small amounts in air and used in electric lamps see element
2
a
: a lamp in which the gas contains a large amount of neon that gives a reddish glow when a current is passed through it
b
: a sign composed of such lamps

neon

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of, relating to, or using neon
neon lights
2
: extremely bright : fluorescent
neon yellow

Medical Definition

neon

noun
ne·​on ˈnē-ˌän How to pronounce neon (audio)
: a colorless odorless primarily inert gaseous element found in minute amounts in air and used in electric lamps
symbol Ne
see Chemical Elements Table

More from Merriam-Webster on neon

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