traffic light

American  

noun

traffic lights plural

1. a set of electrically operated signal lights used to direct or control traffic at intersections.

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traffic light British  

noun

1. one of a set of coloured lights placed at crossroads, junctions, etc, to control the flow of traffic. A red light indicates that traffic must stop and a green light that it may go: usually an amber warning light is added between the red and the green

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• traffic lights
  plural

Etymology

Origin of traffic light

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

traffic light

In another clip obtained by The Times, one individual with a Spider-Man mask was seen climbing a traffic light before leading the crowd in a chant: “USA, USA, USA.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026

Metropolitan Police PC Luke Short saw him on 12 September last year, waiting at a red traffic light in Victoria Street, Westminster, just before 11:20 BST.

From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026

Seven months ago, a self-driving Waymo made an illegal U-turn at a traffic light right in front of police officers in San Bruno.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026

A previous dress rehearsal highlighted the need for a new traffic light at a specific location to alleviate gridlock when military convoys move across the country.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 27, 2025

He was small, dark-haired and disapproving, a glint of red from the traffic light coloring the tip of his nose.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

Related Words

• red light
• stoplight
• traffic control
• yellow light