noun · verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˈbæk.laɪt/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:B AE1 K L AY2 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Light shining from a source behind the object of interest or attention.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Examples
The backlight from the sunset cast the pier and the crowd in silhouette.
Egg candling uses backlight to look for chick embryos.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Light shining from a source behind the object of interest or attention.
A spotlight that illuminates a photographic subject from behind.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Light shining from a source behind the object of interest or attention.
Light that is behind a photographic subject.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Light shining from a source behind the object of interest or attention.
A light attached to an LCD display.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
The rear window of a motor car.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To illuminate something from behind.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From back + light.
Across languages
Translations
31 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
contrallum
— spotlight that illuminates a photographic subject from behind
Catalan:
contraclaror
— spotlight that illuminates a photographic subject from behind
Chinese Mandarin:
背光
(bèiguāng)
— spotlight that illuminates a photographic subject from behind
Dutch:
tegenlicht
— spotlight that illuminates a photographic subject from behind
Finnish:
taustavalo
— spotlight that illuminates a photographic subject from behind
French:
contrejour
— spotlight that illuminates a photographic subject from behind
Hungarian:
ellenfény
— spotlight that illuminates a photographic subject from behind
Spanish:
contraluz
— spotlight that illuminates a photographic subject from behind
Catalan:
retroil·luminació
— light attached to an LCD display
Chinese Mandarin:
背光燈 /背光灯
— light attached to an LCD display
Chinese Mandarin:
背光模組 /背光模组
— light attached to an LCD display
Dutch:
backlight
— light attached to an LCD display
Esperanto:
fonlumo
— light attached to an LCD display
Finnish:
taustavalo
— light attached to an LCD display
French:
rétroéclairage
— light attached to an LCD display
Italian:
retroilluminazione
— light attached to an LCD display
Portuguese:
retroiluminação
— light attached to an LCD display
Russian:
подсве́тка
(podsvétka)
— light attached to an LCD display
Spanish:
retroiluminación
— light attached to an LCD display
Chinese Mandarin:
後擋風玻璃 /后挡风玻璃
(hòu dǎngfēng bōli)
— rear window of a motor car
Chinese Mandarin:
後窗 /后窗
— rear window of a motor car
Dutch:
achterruit
— rear window of a motor car
Finnish:
takaikkuna
— rear window of a motor car
French:
lunette arrière
— rear window of a motor car
Chinese Mandarin:
從背後照明 /从背后照明
(cóng bèihòu zhàomíng)
— illuminate something from behind
Chinese Mandarin:
背光照明
(bèiguāng zhàomíng)
— illuminate something from behind
Finnish:
taustavalaista
— illuminate something from behind
French:
éclairer par derrière
— illuminate something from behind
French:
rétro-éclairer
— illuminate something from behind
Italian:
illuminare dal di dietro
— illuminate something from behind
Spanish:
retroiluminar
— illuminate something from behind
