key light

noun

: the main light illuminating a photographic subject

Examples of key light in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Under the white tent, behind the cameras, bright key lights were stood up and turned on. — Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2023 So no key light, no beauty light. — Tomás Mier, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of key light was circa 1937

Rhymes for key light

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Browse Nearby Words

key letter
key light
key lime
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Cite this Entry

“Key light.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/key%20light. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on key light

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about key light

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