toggle switch

American

noun

Electricity.

a switch in which a projecting knob or arm, moving through a small arc, causes the contacts to open or close an electric circuit suddenly, as commonly used in most homes.

toggle switch British

noun

an electric switch having a projecting lever that is manipulated in a particular way to open or close a circuit
a computer device that is used to turn a feature on or off

"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 toggle switch

First recorded in 1920–25

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.

There is even a red toggle switch for "manual detonation", explains Thirteenth.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2024

"Our work uncovered a toggle switch in his brain," Murthy said.

From Science Daily • Oct. 11, 2023

A rocker light switch — a seesaw-like device you can use with your palm or elbow — can be easier to use than a traditional toggle switch.

From Washington Post • Feb. 6, 2023

You’ll see a toggle switch to enable or disable adaptive brightness.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 5, 2022

He flipped on the flashlight and groped along the side of the car, looking for the toggle switch that released the trunk.

From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023