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.

---

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

---

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of stainless steel

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stainless steel

Over the last two decades, this has involved the use of stainless steel springs to gradually widen the gap, giving space for the brain to develop and for new bone to grow.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

Spent nuclear fuel is stored in lead and stainless steel casks and bolted into concrete at a specially built pad at Diablo.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

The findings were published in Materials Today in a study titled "A sequential dual-passivation strategy for designing stainless steel used above water oxidation."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026

Durable, ready-for-anywhere gear like stainless steel tumblers and a backpack in lieu of a basket are versatile enough for dining al fresco almost anywhere.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026

This one’s stainless steel facade has been peeled back, exposing its innards as if it were decomposing from the inside out.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman