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; 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

Members of Congress on both sides of the political aisle say that Trump has withheld information, including with whom the administration is negotiating inside Iran, and other basic details.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

Interest in regulating the booming asset class has spread across the aisle in Congress amid concerns over prediction-market insider trading and sports markets that sidestep state gambling regulations.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Martin Parr had never been to war, but he had witnessed combat—on aisle three.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

When Maariya Khan was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 21, her goal was to walk down the aisle independently on her wedding day.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

When Boaz looked down, he saw what appeared to be the top of Clara’s head in the center aisle, but he couldn’t say for certain.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Related Words

• avenue
• corridor
• hallway
• lane
• path