red-light

1 of 2

adjective

variants or less commonly red light
: relating to or being an area with many brothels or sex workers
Just inside the entrance to "Picasso Érotique," the exhibition's designer has recreated an imagined bordello bedroom as one might have existed in the red-light district of Barcelona in the era of Picasso's youth.Arthur C. Danto
In the beginning, entertainment ran more along the lines of saloons, card games and red light activities.Jennifer Houghton

red light

2 of 2

noun

: a warning signal
especially : a red traffic signal

Examples of red-light in a Sentence

Noun the reporter took her glower as a red light and stopped asking questions
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Originally called El Dorado Street, the stretch of Post was San Jose’s original red-light district, with saloons and gambling rooms aplenty. Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025 As seen through Leite’s hedonistic sensibilities, Brazil’s red-light districts vibrated with intoxicating samba and bohemian camaraderie; shrewd madams kept the police at bay, and clients did not dare mistreat the women. Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Noun
Balde, 24, was traveling through a steady red light, police said. Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2025 The space has been decorated with red lights and pillows as a nod to the new product. Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for red-light

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1894, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of red-light was in 1849

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Red-light.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red-light. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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