aisle

American  

[ahyl] / aɪl /

noun

1. a walkway between or along blocks or rows of seats in a theater, classroom, airplane, etc..

   We were glad to get seats next to the aisle for that flight.

2. Architecture.

   1. a longitudinal division of an interior area, such as in a church, separated from the main area by an arcade or the like.

   2. any of the longitudinal divisions of a church or similarly shaped building.

3. the aisle, the divide or division between two political factions or parties.

   The Democrat reached across the aisle to form a bipartisan coalition.

   Her proposal was criticized by folks on both sides of the aisle.

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idioms

1. in the aisles. rolling.

2. walk / go down the aisle, to get married.

   Fewer couples are walking down the aisle these days.

aisle British  

/ aɪl /

noun

1. a passageway separating seating areas in a theatre, church, etc; gangway

2. a lateral division in a church flanking the nave or chancel

3. informal (of an audience) overcome with laughter

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Other Word Forms

• aisled
  adjective
• aisleless
  adjective
• unaisled
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of aisle

First recorded in 1350–1400, and in 1880–85 aisle for def. 3; alteration (with ai from French aile “wing”) of earlier ile, isle (with s from isle ), from Middle French, from Latin āla “wing,” cognate with axle; see ala; sense of aisle def. 3 derives from the central aisle dividing Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and in other legislative chambers

Explanation

An aisle is a passageway, often between seating areas or shelves. Brides and grooms walk down an aisle at weddings, while you might head to the cookie aisle in the supermarket. An aisle is essentially a passageway between something. You have to walk down an aisle to reach your seat at a theater or concert hall, to get to your seat on a crowded airplane, or to reach the produce at your local supermarket. The ai in aisle is pronounced like a long i, so the word sounds like isle rather than ail.

Example Sentences

She has asked her uncle Dan to walk her down the aisle and will put a cap on what would be her dad's chair at the wedding.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

In reality, most of us are trying to answer the same question everyone else is: How do you feed yourself well without financially spiraling in the produce aisle?

From Salon • May 22, 2026

Lawmakers from across the aisle have raised concerns.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

He told jurors that when he first spotted Elena-Lopez standing in the aisle, he thought the suspect was holding a gun.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

Standing behind them in the aisle, thirteen-year-old Owen Mackenzie smiled and rubbed his hands together.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Related Words

• avenue
• corridor
• hallway
• lane
• path