light bulb

American  

noun

1. an electric light.

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light bulb British  

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: bulb.  a glass bulb containing a gas, such as argon or nitrogen, at low pressure and enclosing a thin metal filament that emits light when an electric current is passed through it

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Etymology

Origin of light bulb

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Adapted from a bestselling novel of the same name, it stars Juno Temple as a woman who gets to experience life with a different partner every time she changes the light bulb in her attic.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

Blog comment sections were notoriously dynamic, full of debate and discussion and lots of light bulb moments for writers and readers alike.

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026

From that light bulb moment, Recondition, which Brown said created every piece with accessibility and style in mind, was born.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

In contrast, regulatory bodies like the FTC have been part of the federal government for longer than the light bulb.

From Slate • Dec. 11, 2025

The room was murky again, except for the single light bulb.

From "The Contender" by Robert Lipsyte