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Definition of fanlight

fanlight

/ˈfæn.laɪt/
fan · light
Plural:fanlights
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fanlight Lexical Profile

fanlight Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A semicircular or semi-elliptical window set over a door or another window, typically having glazing bars or tracery that radiate out like an open fan.

Example

"Morning sunlight streamed into the front hall through the ornate Georgian fanlight above the heavy oak door."

2

British Any small window placed above a door or the main section of another window, often hinged to open for ventilation regardless of its shape.

Example

"She propped open the rectangular fanlight above the kitchen window to let the steam escape."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for fanlight

• Nearby Words

fangless
fanglike
fangtooth
fanlight
fanlike
fanmaker
fanny

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 19th century as a compound of 'fan' and 'light' (in the architectural sense of a window opening), referencing the semicircular window's radiating glazing bars that resemble an open handheld fan.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Fanlight. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/fanlight
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