lantern

American  

[lan-tern] / ˈlæn tərn /

noun

• lanterns
  plural

1. a transparent or translucent, usually portable, case for enclosing a light and protecting it from the wind, rain, etc.

2. the chamber at the top of a lighthouse, surrounding the light.

3. magic lantern.

4. Architecture.

   1. a tall, more or less open construction admitting light to an enclosed area below.

   2. any light, decorative structure of relatively small size crowning a roof, dome, etc.

   3. an open-sided structure on a roof to let out smoke or to assist ventilation.

5. a light, usually over the entrance to an elevator on each floor of a multistory building, that signals the approach of the elevator.

---

lantern British  

/ ˈlæntən /

noun

1. a light with a transparent or translucent protective case

2. a structure on top of a dome or roof having openings or windows to admit light or air

3. the upper part of a lighthouse that houses the light

4. photog short for magic lantern

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• lanterns
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lantern

1250–1300; Middle English lanterne < Latin lanterna (< Etruscan ) < Greek lamptḗr lamp, light

Explanation

A lantern is an old-fashioned hand-held light, like the kind you might go looking for ghosts with. There are also modern ones — a lantern is any hand-held light with a see-through case. No ghosts necessary. Some lanterns have an actual flame inside, but others are battery operated, like flashlights, but lanterns usually provide more light. There are also paper lanterns, which are fun for parties, and if you use a pumpkin you have yourself a jack o’ lantern. Lantern comes from the Latin lanterna, "lantern, lamp, or torch," and shares the Greek root lampein, "to shine," with the English word lamp.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lantern lanterns

In his downtime he would travel by horse and buggy across Pennsylvania and neighboring states with what he called his "exhibition": a new-fangled Edison phonograph, a magic lantern slide projector and later on, movies.

From Barron's ● Apr. 13, 2026

When asked about this, one elderly lantern maker said it was because they could easily fill diverse orders, no matter how small in scale, and do it more cheaply than factories could.

From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2026

Citrus lingers — oranges, grapefruit, tangerines — holding onto the last of their brightness like a lantern carried through fog.

From Salon ● Mar. 1, 2026

At night by lantern light, he read Churchill’s six-volume history of World War II.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2025

I lit my lantern, reached for a notebook, and thumbed through its pages.

From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate

That lively string of bird feeders beside the nursing home seemed quietly heroic, like a line of lanterns burning brightly against the dusk.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

In the wholesale markets of Yiwu, the Chinese city known for supplying the world with inexpensive goods, buyers can find prayer rugs, Quran stands, modest clothing, Ramadan lanterns and crescent-shaped decorations.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026

At times, district administrators would pull out cellphones to take video or to wave like electronic lanterns at a rock concert.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

Giant red lanterns adorned the outdoor courtyard, and the guests inside treated themselves to food stalls akin to a Taiwanese night market.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 24, 2026

More lanterns lit by fire come to life as we move along.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

Related Words

• beacon
• flashlight
• kerosene lamp
• torch