: a large usually flat-bottomed barge used especially in unloading or loading ships
Examples of lighter in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Howard Fendrich, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
There are also lots of other coins, jewelry, lighters, pocket knives, and rare paper currency to bid on.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
Showers keeps a small collection of vintage lighters on a tray in her living room.
—Ryan Conner, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026
That same rule of thumb goes for any type of flame source, like lighters or torches.
—Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lighter
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Noun
All three flame-lighters — Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni in Milan, and Sofia Goggia in Cortina — are Olympic champion Alpine ski racers from Italy.
—Howard Fendrich, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
There are also lots of other coins, jewelry, lighters, pocket knives, and rare paper currency to bid on.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
Showers keeps a small collection of vintage lighters on a tray in her living room.
—Ryan Conner, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026
That same rule of thumb goes for any type of flame source, like lighters or torches.
—Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lighter
Cite this Entry
“Lighter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lighter. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lighter
1 of 3 noun
ligh·ter
ˈlīt-ər 
: a large barge used especially in unloading or loading ships
lighter
2 of 3 verb
: to carry by a lighter
lighter
3 of 3 noun
light·er
ˈlīt-ər
: one that lights
especially
: a device for lighting
a cigarette lighter
Etymology
Noun
Middle English lighter "boat"; of Dutch origin
Noun
from 3light and -er
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