indirect lighting

American  

noun

1. reflected or diffused light, used especially in interiors to avoid glare or shadows.

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indirect lighting British  

noun

1. reflected or diffused light from a concealed source

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Etymology

Origin of indirect lighting

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Asymmetrical windows throughout both floors of the home provide indirect lighting for Kai’s artworks, responding to the house’s geometry and mimicking its playfulness.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 13, 2025

For a dreamy mood, indirect lighting is much softer than direct, overhead lighting.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 7, 2023

The company also added WiZ bar and floor lights as options for indirect lighting and wall-washing, which are available now.

From The Verge • Aug. 9, 2022

African mahogany covers the ceiling, which is sloped here and there; indirect lighting casts a glow over the interior, outfitted with a handsome communal table.

From Washington Post • Jul. 23, 2019

You know the kind of place our shop is: a regular Fifth Avenue store, all plate glass front and marble columns glowing in the indirect lighting like a birchwood at full moon.

From The Haunted Bookshop by Morley, Christopher