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Definition of nightlight

nightlight

/ˈnaɪt.laɪt/
night · light
Plural:nightlights
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nightlight Lexical Profile

nightlight Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small, low-wattage electrical light kept on at night to provide comfort or safety in dark areas such as bedrooms or hallways.

Example

"She plugged a small nightlight into the hallway outlet so the children could easily find their way to the bathroom."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for nightlight

Word Nuance & Usage

Frequently written as two distinct words ('night light'), though the closed compound ('nightlight') is widely accepted and commonly used in modern publishing.

• Nearby Words

nightingale
nightjar
nightlife
nightlight
nightlong
nightly
nightmare

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'night' and 'light', dating back to the 17th century originally referring to a short candle kept burning safely through the night.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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