stoplight

noun

stop·​light ˈstäp-ˌlīt How to pronounce stoplight (audio)
1
: a light on the rear of a motor vehicle that is illuminated when the driver presses the brake pedal
2

Examples of stoplight in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web On the island of Vieques, not a single stoplight stands between leafy, tropical hillsides and some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2024 No stoplights, streetlamps or billboards clutter the landscape. Robin Soslow, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 The projects include installing new stoplights in Barrio Logan to boost pedestrian safety, replacing car lanes with bike lanes on Market Street east of downtown and adding curb bulb-outs at Congress and Twiggs streets in Old Town to slow down vehicles. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2023 The island situated in the Gulf of Mexico has no stoplights or major franchises, instead opting for a more laid back life. Sam Burros, Peoplemag, 23 Aug. 2023 The artsy town that borders Lake Superior is home to food trucks and art installations, rather than stoplights. Sam Burros, Peoplemag, 23 Aug. 2023 Council members also expressed support for a wide range of infrastructure priorities, including more sidewalk repairs, streetlight upgrades, traffic-calming measures and timed stoplights to reduce congestion. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Oct. 2023 Using data on traffic volumes, road conditions and ramp capacity, an engineer will set the outer limits of the ramp metering station: how little congestion is needed to turn on the stoplight, and the maximum amount of time the meter can make drivers wait to enter the highway. Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2023 Trail runners don’t have to navigate stoplights, construction, or many other people. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 5 Oct. 2023

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

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stoplight was in 1926

Dictionary Entries Near stoplight

Cite this Entry

“Stoplight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stoplight. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

stoplight

noun
stop·​light ˈstäp-ˌlīt How to pronounce stoplight (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on stoplight

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