jack-o'-lantern
Americannoun
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jack-o'-lanterns
plural
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a hollowed pumpkin with openings cut to represent human eyes, nose, and mouth and in which a candle or other light may be placed, traditionally made for display at Halloween.
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a commercially made lantern resembling this.
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any phenomenon of light, as a corona discharge or an ignis fatuus.
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a poisonous luminescent orange fungus, Omphalotus olearius, often found in clusters at the base of hardwood tree stumps.
noun
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a lantern made from a hollowed pumpkin, which has holes cut in it to represent a human face
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a will-o'-the-wisp or similar phenomenon
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of jack-o'-lantern
First recorded in 1655–65
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:
There was also another complication for consumers expecting professionally carved chocolate: Packaging included in the court’s opinion labels the jack-o’-lantern image a “DECORATING SUGGESTION.”
From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026
“I’m David Pumpkins,” Hanks — dressed in a jack-o'-lantern suit — announced to cheers from the crowd.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2022
These events are essentially like run-of-the-mill jack-o’-lantern carving festivities — contestants get pumpkins, carving tools and an hour to finish their masterpieces — except they happen entirely underwater.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 26, 2022
Rain falling on your jack-o’-lantern will invite every mold in the neighborhood to take up residency in or on it.
From Scientific American ● Oct. 19, 2022
Now he had such a huge smile it almost seemed too big for his face, like the smile on a jack-o'-lantern.
From "Holes" by Louis Sachar
That farm grows pumpkins on 500 acres, mostly for decorations like jack-o’-lanterns.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
He is broken crayons and petting zoos and plastic jack-o'-lanterns stuffed with candy.
From Salon ● Feb. 3, 2024
If you’re the type who thrills to a chill up your spine and can’t wait to dive into the spooky vibes of the season, you want to create a next-level atmosphere beyond ghosts and jack-o’-lanterns.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 20, 2023
Another long-standing local Halloween destination is the field of jack-o’-lanterns that lie in wait at the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2023
The mirror stood between the piles, tied with a blue ribbon, reflecting the orange flicker of the jack-o’-lanterns.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
