lighthouse
Americannoun
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lighthouses
plural
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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.
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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.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of lighthouse
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.
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.
See Examples For:
Many here see America as a lighthouse of Western democratic values.
From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026
Cundiff compares the effect to a lighthouse that sweeps a beam across the horizon as its lamp rotates.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026
As they passed the little red lighthouse under the George Washington Bridge, Barouch proposed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026
The 2025/26 away kit, manufactured by sportswear firm Hummel, features a repeating geometric pattern showing the lighthouse, viewed through a circular design resembling the sculpture's aperture.
From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2026
If the Earth happens to lie in the beam of this cosmic lighthouse, we see it flash once each rotation.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
"After many years, I found myself navigating manually again, searching for lighthouses to make sure we stayed on course," Islam said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
“But he was kind of one of the lighthouses of integrity and common sense and spoke truth to power, but also got the powers to speak to one another.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 6, 2026
All lighthouses, he said, have a great story.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2025
By the late 1890s, they were making "lamps for lighthouses" and specialised in aluminium.
From BBC ● Nov. 30, 2024
Ain’t no lighthouses in Springfield, but who cares!
From "All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds
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