Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for "lighter"
Synonyms

lighter

1 American  
[lahy-ter] / ˈlaɪ tər /

noun

  1. a person or thing that lights or ignites.

  2. a mechanical device used in lighting cigarettes, cigars, or pipes for smoking.


lighter 2 American  
[lahy-ter] / ˈlaɪ tər /

noun

  1. a large, open, flat-bottomed barge, used in unloading and loading ships offshore or in transporting goods for short distances in shallow waters.


verb (used with object)

  1. to convey in or as if in a lighter.

lighter 1 British  
/ ˈlaɪtə /

noun

  1. a small portable device for providing a naked flame or red-hot filament to light cigarettes, etc

  2. a person or thing that ignites something

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

lighter 2 British  
/ ˈlaɪtə /

noun

  1. a flat-bottomed barge used for transporting cargo, esp in loading or unloading a ship

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of lighter1

First recorded in 1545–55; light 1 + -er 1

Origin of lighter2

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at light 3, -er 1

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:

Perhaps the system did not contain one extremely massive object paired with a much lighter companion.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026

It said that lighter regulation, better marketing and incentives for investors were needed to stem the outflow.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

But when he first developed an interest in filmmaking, he had a lighter approach.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

For example, performing 20 to 25 repetitions with a lighter weight can produce similar improvements to lifting a heavier weight ten times, provided the effort is high.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 2, 2026

Now comes the part in all her stories where her voice becomes lighter, like she’s casually giving directions to the corner panadería.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training