southern lights

noun

, (used with a plural verb)

1. aurora australis.

southern lights

plural noun

1. another name for aurora australis

southern lights

1. See under aurora

Word History and Origins

Origin of southern lights¹

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

When they slammed into Earth’s magnetic bubble, the world was treated to iridescent displays of the northern and southern lights.

From New York Times

This type of space weather is what creates auroras, also known as the northern and southern lights, depending on the hemisphere in which you live.

From New York Times

One camera will look straight ahead at the horizon, capturing sunrises and sunsets, as well as the northern and southern lights.

From BBC

On Earth, it triggers geomagnetic storms that can disrupt satellites and it causes the dazzling auroras - the northern and southern lights - at high latitudes.

From Reuters

In the southern hemisphere, aurora australis, or the southern lights, are typically visible from Antarctica, Australia and south of Argentina.

From New York Times