lighter

¹ American  

[lahy-ter] / ˈlaɪ tər /

noun

1. a person or thing that lights or ignites.

2. a mechanical device used in lighting cigarettes, cigars, or pipes for smoking.

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lighter ² American  

[lahy-ter] / ˈlaɪ tər /

noun

1. a large, open, flat-bottomed barge, used in unloading and loading ships offshore or in transporting goods for short distances in shallow waters.

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verb (used with object)

1. to convey in or as if in a lighter.

lighter ¹ British  

/ ˈlaɪtə /

noun

1. a small portable device for providing a naked flame or red-hot filament to light cigarettes, etc

2. a person or thing that ignites something

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lighter ² British  

/ ˈlaɪtə /

noun

1. a flat-bottomed barge used for transporting cargo, esp in loading or unloading a ship

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Etymology

Origin of lighter¹

First recorded in 1545–55; light ¹ + -er ¹

Origin of lighter²

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at light ³, -er ¹

Example Sentences

The new bottles, already on some shelves, claim the product “Feels Lighter, Lasts Longer.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 2026

Edible Paris is one section you’ll find on the city’s long, ambitious enviro menu — a larger regreening of the City of Light into the City of Lighter Environmental Impact.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 24, 2024

Lighter elements -- generally those with an atomic number of 20 or lower on the periodic table -- often have an equal number of protons and neutrons.

From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2024

Lighter roasts are often described as more complex or subtle, while darker roasts are “bolder,” sometimes with a smoky or nutty flavor.

From Salon • Oct. 23, 2023

Lighter objects are wildly jumbled, many of them out on the surface.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Related Words

• barge
• boat
• life raft
• lifeboat