traffic light

American  

noun

• traffic lights
  plural

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

---

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

---

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

Tsudik says ambiguous squares, such as those containing just a sliver of a bicycle or traffic light, are judged in part by how other people have labeled the same image.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

At just 6mph, it replicates the kind of annoying prang you might well get in a car park or at a traffic light.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

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

In January, the Department for Transport published a traffic light rating system judging local authorities on how they are maintaining their roads and spending government funding.

From BBC ● May 4, 2026

They pull to a stop at the Thirteenth Street traffic light.

From "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone

Related Words

• red light
• stoplight
• traffic control
• yellow light