# neon

/ˈniɑn/ (US) · /nˈiːɒn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/neon
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. chemical element

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a gas with no colour or smell that glows brightly when electricity passes through it.

For teachers: the chemical element with atomic number 10; a noble gas that is colourless and odorless but emits a distinctive reddish-orange glow in a vacuum discharge tube.

- Scientists use neon in certain types of high-voltage research.
- Neon is the second-lightest noble gas and remains chemically inactive under most standard laboratory conditions.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the element itself.

### 2. bright signs or lights

noun · CEFR B2

brightly coloured lights or signs used for shops and advertising.

For teachers: luminous glass tubing containing neon or other gases, used primarily for decorative lighting and commercial signage.

- The streets of Tokyo are famous for their bright neon and huge screens.
- The old motel was easy to find because its flickering pink neon was visible from the highway even in heavy rain.

### 3. extremely bright colours

adjective · CEFR B2

very bright or fluorescent, like the colours of a glowing sign.

For teachers: having an extremely bright, saturated, or fluorescent appearance reminiscent of gas-discharge lamps.

- She wore a neon green jacket so her friends could find her in the crowd.
- The fashion designer's spring collection was noted for its bold use of neon pink and electric blue accents.

## Examples

- The neon sign glows brightly in the window.
- The city streets were bathed in the pink and blue light of neon signs from the local bars.
- While true neon produces a red light, other noble gases and fluorescent coatings are used to create the full spectrum of colors seen in commercial displays.

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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.