# lightbulb

/ˈɫaɪtˌbəɫb/ (US) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lightbulb
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

a glass container that produces light when electricity passes through it. You find them in every room of a house to help you see at night.

For teachers: a glass container containing a filament or gas that produces light when an electric current is passed through it. Often used metonymically to refer to the concept of an idea or the person who had it.

## Examples

- The lightbulb in the kitchen is broken.
- He replaced the old lightbulb with a more energy-efficient LED version to save on his electricity bill.
- While the lightbulb is often credited to Edison, the history of electric lighting is a complex web of patents and incremental improvements by numerous inventors across several decades.

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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.