banquette

American  

[bang-ket, bang-kit] / bæŋˈkɛt, ˈbæŋ kɪt /

noun

1. a long bench with an upholstered seat, especially one along a wall, as in a restaurant.

2. an embankment for buttressing the base of a levee and forming a berm.

3. Chiefly Coastal Louisiana and East Texas. a sidewalk, especially a raised one of bricks or planks.

4. Fortification. a platform or step along the inside of a parapet, for soldiers to stand on when firing.

5. a ledge running across the back of a buffet.

6. a bench for passengers on top of a stagecoach.

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banquette British  

/ bæŋˈkɛt /

noun

1. an upholstered bench

2. (formerly) a raised part behind a parapet

3. a footbridge

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Etymology

Origin of banquette

1620–30; < French < Provençal banqueta, equivalent to banc bench ( see bank ³) + -eta -ette

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

banquette

The maître d’ escorted us to a banquette near a window facing northeast.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

Seated at a banquette table in the back of the restaurant, the pair ordered two entrees, drinks, and appetizers, totaling $371.55, and at some point during the meal, Eatherly began livestreaming.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

The build also has an attractive, built-in banquette in the living room, a front deck, and charming outdoor seating areas.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

His co-star Daniel Radcliffe and Mr. Radcliffe’s longtime girlfriend, the actress Erin Darke, watched from their perch on a banquette as they greeted well-wishers.

From New York Times ● Jun. 17, 2024

Freckles shifts on the banquette and sets his phone aside.

From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle

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