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light rail

(US, Canada, rail) A kind of passenger railway in urban and suburban settings typically characterized by a mixture of tram (or in North America streetcar) and metro features, crossing streets at grade

ˈlaɪt ˈɹeɪlCurrent163 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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5 citations · last seen May 2026

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#1·Apr 27, 2026

(US, Canada, rail) A kind of passenger railway in urban and suburban settings typically characterized by a mixture of tram (or in North America streetcar) and metro features, crossing streets at grade crossings and normally powered by electricity.

The new Denver light rail runs along the Interstate highway.
For parents

"light rail" means: A kind of passenger railway in urban and suburban settings typically characterized by a mixture of tram (or in North America streetcar) and.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"light rail" means: A kind of passenger railway in urban and suburban settings typically characterized by a mixture of tram (or in North America streetcar) and.... Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. Note the regional or dialect label (US) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a

Heard in the wild
  • “Its been a long time since I've been to Surfer's Paradise but do they have light rail or other public transport that is not buses?”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “OHHHHH, we have light rail transit in Seattle, I wonder if I could???? hahaha”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Jewel Box Cafe is a cute cafe in Northgate, it's worth staying around for a crepe and a 1990s cafe vibe. My review within. ...Plus, it's right off the @sound-transit.bsky.social Link Light Rail, so, you have no excuse to not go? ;P #seattle”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “🚈🟩 River LINE: River Line light rail service is subject to up to 30-minute delays in both directions between 36th Street Station and Route 73/Pennsauken Station due to signal issues. More Info”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “People drive from federal way to Bellevue? Why? It’s so dangerous, stressful, and often very slow. Ride in calm consistent comfort. get on the light rail.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers

"light rail" means: A kind of passenger railway in urban and suburban settings typically characterized by a mixture of tram (or in North America streetcar) and.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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