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Synonyms

lighthouse

American  
[lahyt-hous] / ˈlaɪtˌhaʊs /

noun

plural

lighthouses

  1. a tower or other structure displaying or flashing a very bright light for the guidance of ships in avoiding dangerous areas, in following certain routes, etc.

  2. either of two cylindrical metal towers placed forward on the forecastle of the main deck of a sailing ship, to house the port and starboard running lights.

lighthouse British  
/ ˈlaɪtˌhaʊs /

noun

  1. a fixed structure in the form of a tower equipped with a light visible to mariners for warning them of obstructions, for marking harbour entrances, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of lighthouse

First recorded in 1655–65; light 1 + house

Explanation

A lighthouse is a building with a warning light that helps boats to navigate safely, especially when it's dark or foggy. Maine is famous for its many lighthouses. Most lighthouses consist of a narrow tower, with a rotating or flashing light at the top, located near the coast. Before the invention of the lighthouse, fires were lit on hillsides to help captains guide their ships, and after permanent ports were built in coastal areas, permanent lighthouses were constructed. These warned sailors of obstacles at sea, rocky coastlines, and harbor entrances — and their designs grew more complex through the 18th century.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Claims that they were being carried out in Greece by foreign masked men were reported in 2022 by the Netherlands-based news organisation, Lighthouse Reports.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Thomas Balcom, founder of 1650 Wealth Management in Lighthouse Point, Fla., recently heard from a 20-year-old University of Michigan student whose portfolio had declined approximately 10% from its peak.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

From July 2025 to January, Kansas City’s average hotel room rate jumped 145%, more than any other U.S. host, according to the travel-data platform Lighthouse.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

The city expects 650,000 visitors, with hotel room rates jumping 145% from July 2025 to January, according to Lighthouse.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

“Well, never mind. Welcome to the Lighthouse Motel, Fern.”

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.