# fluorescent

/ˌfɫɔˈɹɛsənt/ (US) · /flɔːɹˈɛsənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fluorescent
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. glowing light

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

producing a bright, cool light using a special tube filled with gas.

For teachers: emitting visible light via the excitation of phosphors by ultraviolet radiation within a gas-discharge lamp.

- The office was lit by long fluorescent tubes that hummed quietly all day.
- The laboratory was bathed in a harsh fluorescent glare that made the sterile equipment appear even more clinical and cold.

Usage: Often used to describe lighting fixtures or the specific quality of light they produce.

### 2. vivid colours

adjective · CEFR B2

extremely bright and easy to see, like neon colours.

For teachers: having a very vivid or strikingly bright appearance, often appearing to glow under certain lighting conditions.

- The cyclists wore fluorescent yellow jackets so drivers could see them in the dark.
- The artist used fluorescent pigments to ensure the mural would remain visible even in the dim light of the underground passage.

### 3. a light bulb

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a tube-shaped electric light that gives off a bright glow.

For teachers: a fluorescent lamp or tube used for illumination.

- One of the fluorescents in the hallway is flickering and needs to be replaced.
- The janitor spent the morning replacing the burnt-out fluorescents in the basement storage area.

Usage: Commonly used as a countable noun in informal workplace contexts to refer to the light fixtures themselves.

## Examples

- The workers wear fluorescent jackets so drivers can see them.
- The office is lit by long fluorescent tubes that hum slightly throughout the workday.
- The artist used fluorescent pigments to ensure the mural would remain visible under the dim ultraviolet lights of the underground gallery.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.