banister
Americannoun
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banisters
plural
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a baluster.
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Sometimes banisters. the balustrade of a staircase.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of banister
First recorded in 1660–70; apparently by dissimilation from earlier barrister, alteration of baluster, perhaps by association with bar 1
Compare meaning
How does banister compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The velvety silhouette feels as distant as the sea, whose dark surface is sliced by the banister.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026
Chu: Ari really owned the space — every time she moved, she knew what her intention was, she lived in that physicality, jumping on the banister and kicking up her leg.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2024
The inquest also heard two statements from firefighters Leighton Brown and Gareth Davies who said the stairs banister, ceiling and the whole of the landing was “covered in smoke and fire” on their arrival.
From BBC ● Nov. 18, 2024
Pennoyer ordered garlands on Amazon to hang over doors and windows and run up the banister.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 8, 2023
So I hang my rug over the banister on the deck and walk a few steps toward the woods.
From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King
Along the banisters were motion-activated lights - one wrong step and they would flare on, announcing their presence.
From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2026
Examples include the front door, mantle, archways, stair banisters, central tables or kitchen islands and windows.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 1, 2023
We were told to keep them away from our faces — keep them from people and banisters and elevator buttons and other destinations toward which they were naturally inclined.
From New York Times ● Mar. 12, 2021
Just 12 years separate the nation from this tradition of political competition bounded by banisters of good manners.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 20, 2020
There are staircases, also of wood, which creak when we climb them, and banisters we aren’t supposed to slide down, and iron radiators that make banging noises and are either stone cold or blazing hot.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
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