Meaning & use
luminaire
Last updated
UK/ˈluːmɪneə/
US/ˌluːmɪˈner/
Meaning
nouncountabletechnicalspecialist
A complete lighting unit, including the bulb, the fitting that holds it and any shade or cover.
Grammar: Countable: install four luminaires.
Patterns
- a luminaire for something
The architect chose a sleek luminaire for the hallway.
Each luminaire in the office has a built-in dimmer.
The street was lit by energy-saving luminaires.
Word forms
| plural | luminaires |
|---|
Common combinations
- install a luminaire
- The electrician installed a luminaire above the table.
- LED luminaire
- An LED luminaire uses less power.
- ceiling luminaire
- A ceiling luminaire lit the whole room.
- outdoor luminaire
- The outdoor luminaire must be waterproof.
Synonyms and how they differ
- light fitting
- Light fitting is the usual British everyday phrase, whereas luminaire is the formal industry term.
- lamp
- A lamp often means the bulb itself or a portable light, but a luminaire is the whole unit.
- fixture
- Fixture is the common American word for a fixed light, and is less technical than luminaire.
- lantern
- A lantern is a portable, often decorative light, which is narrower than luminaire.
Word family
- luminous adjective
- giving off light
- illuminate verb
- to light up
- luminosity noun
- brightness
- luminary noun
- a famous and influential person
Commonly confused: luminaire or luminary?
luminaire vs luminary
A luminary is a famous person who inspires others, not a lighting unit.
Practice
In lighting design, which term describes the whole unit that holds and covers a light source?
Choose one answer.
A luminaire is the complete lighting unit. A lumen measures light output, and a luminary is a famous person.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “luminaire”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.