red-eye

American  

[red-ahy] / ˈrɛdˌaɪ /

noun

1. the condition of having bloodshot eyes, as from eyestrain or lack of sleep.

2. Informal. Also red eye, a commercial airline flight between two distant points that departs late at night and arrives early in the morning.

3. redeye.

4. an unwanted photographic effect in which a person's iris appears to be red: caused by the reflection of a flashbulb off the blood vessels of the retina.

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adjective

1. Informal. Also of or indicating a long-distance flight that leaves late at night.

   the red-eye special from New York to Los Angeles.

red-eye ¹ British  

noun

1. informal

   1. an aeroplane flight leaving late at night or arriving early in the morning

   2. ( as modifier )

      a red-eye flight

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red eye ² British  

noun

1. photog an undesirable effect that sometimes appears in flashlight portraits when light from the flash enters the eye and is reflected from the retina on to the film, producing a red colour

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Etymology

Origin of red-eye

1965–70, red-eye for def. 2

Example Sentences

United Airlines has scrapped some red-eye and midweek flights, while Air France is charging business class passengers more to offset the fuel burden of their heavier seats.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

That’s probably another reason I found this to be a better value than my pricier red-eye American flight to London last year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

The remaining one is now being shown everywhere – a shocked Andrew leaning back on a car seat, his eyes reflecting the photographers' flashes at night in what's known as the red-eye effect.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

Good thing: Though he’s in town to shoot a performance for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” he’s booked on a red-eye flight to Tampa tomorrow for a stadium gig with Wallen the following night.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2024

“I booked a red-eye for after the party tonight. I'll only be gone two days, and when I get back we'll figure everything out, okay?”

From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio

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