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

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

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

Indian home minister Amit Shah said the blast occurred around 7 p.m. in a Hyundai i20 car at a traffic light near the Red Fort.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2025

At the end of the first block, the traffic light turns green and all the cars accelerate at once.

From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari

Related Words

• red light
• stoplight
• traffic control
• yellow light