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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

banquette

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

The crisp white tablecloth in front of me shined bright white, and the banquette seating offered the same minimalist design as some of the region’s trendiest spots.

From New York Times ● Apr. 6, 2023

The Academy Museum makes up for its carceral benches with a dramatic circular, cherry-red banquette that sits inside the curving gallery that holds historic Oscar statuettes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2023

Freckles shifts on the banquette and sets his phone aside.

From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle