stainless steel

American  

noun

1. alloy steel containing 12 percent or more chromium, so as to be resistant to rust and attack from various chemicals.

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stainless steel British  

noun

1. 1. a type of steel resistant to corrosion as a result of the presence of large amounts of chromium (12–15 per cent). The carbon content depends on the application, being 0.2–0.4 per cent for steel used in cutlery, etc, and about 1 per cent for use in scalpels and razor blades

   2. ( as modifier )

      stainless-steel cutlery

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stainless steel Scientific  

/ stān′lĭs /

1. Any of various alloys of iron that contain chromium, nickel, and small amounts of carbon. They may also contain minor amounts of other elements, such as molybdenum. Stainless steel is resistant to rusting and corrosion.

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Etymology

Origin of stainless steel

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Nanninga said engineers have watched how stainless steel aged over the 100 years it has been in use, and he thinks the material will hold up well in this national exercise of self-storage.

From Barron's • Jul. 2, 2026

Built of concrete and sheathed in stainless steel, it is our tallest monument alongside our greatest river.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 27, 2026

They delivered Coke syrup in 75 gallon stainless steel barrels on trucks, pumped directly into McDonald’s restaurants through hoses to guarantee freshness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026

In August 2017, £660.80 was spent on a Jura glass coffee cup warmer, six Jura espresso cups and a stainless steel milk pipe, which attaches to a coffee machine.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

The air lock was made entirely of stainless steel, and it was lined with nozzles for spraying water and chemicals.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston