lanterne rouge

noun

The competitor in last place in a competition; the person or entity at the bottom of a ranking

OriginFrench lanterne rouge →
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Meanings

nounlanterne rouge (plural lanternes rouges)

plural lanternes rouges

  1. hobbiesThe competitor in last place in a competition; the person or entity at the bottom of a ranking
  2. hobbiesLast place in a competition or other ranking

Origin

  1. Frenchlanterne rouge
  2. Englishlanterne rouge

From French lanterne rouge (literally “red lantern”), referring to the red lantern at the rear of a train.

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

lanterne rouge. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lanterne%20rouge

MLA

“lanterne rouge.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lanterne%20rouge. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lanterne rouge,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lanterne%20rouge.

Source: lanterne rouge on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.