stainless steel

American  

noun

1. alloy steel containing 12 percent or more chromium, so as to be resistant to rust and attack from various chemicals.

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stainless steel British  

noun

1. 1. a type of steel resistant to corrosion as a result of the presence of large amounts of chromium (12–15 per cent). The carbon content depends on the application, being 0.2–0.4 per cent for steel used in cutlery, etc, and about 1 per cent for use in scalpels and razor blades

   2. ( as modifier )

      stainless-steel cutlery

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stainless steel Scientific  

/ stān′lĭs /

1. Any of various alloys of iron that contain chromium, nickel, and small amounts of carbon. They may also contain minor amounts of other elements, such as molybdenum. Stainless steel is resistant to rusting and corrosion.

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Etymology

Origin of stainless steel

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Stainless steel has been used for more than a century in corrosive environments because it protects itself.

From Science Daily • May 10, 2026

Stainless steel or ceramic pans "are far safer", she said.

From BBC • Dec. 1, 2025

Stainless steel pots and pans are another good option.

From Salon • Dec. 9, 2024

Stainless steel and PVC pipe barriers have been set up around transplanted coral in the past, but those barriers needed to be cleaned of algae growth and eventually removed.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 10, 2024

Stainless steel tubes were packed with crushed recycled carbon steel and then rolled under heat and pressure, bonding the whole together.

From Joe Burke's Last Stand by Wetterau, John Moncure