stainless

American  

[steyn-lis] / ˈsteɪn lɪs /

adjective

1. having no stain; spotless.

2. made of stainless steel.

3. resistant to staining, rusting, the corrosive effect of chemicals, etc.

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noun

1. flatware made of stainless steel.

2. stainless steel.

stainless British  

/ ˈsteɪnlɪs /

adjective

1. resistant to discoloration, esp discoloration resulting from corrosion; rust-resistant

   stainless steel

2. having no blemish

   a stainless reputation

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noun

1. stainless steel

Other Word Forms

• stainlessly adverb
• stainlessness noun

Etymology

Origin of stainless

First recorded in 1580–90; stain + -less

Example Sentences

Boomers upgraded to stainless and quartz, put in a pool, added a couple of bedrooms—and made that house harder to afford.

From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026

They deposited an extremely thin layer of thorium onto stainless steel using electroplating, a technique commonly used in jewelry.

From Science Daily • Jan. 8, 2026

Exports of 300 specific steel products, including stainless steel, will be subject to authorities’ approval, according to a list published by the commerce ministry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Gehry’s first skyscraper, 8 Spruce, reimagined the Manhattan high-rise as a kind of gleaming, pleated fabric, its shifted stainless steel panels rippling downward, catching daylight in a constantly shifting display.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025

Then a door which opened by means of a large wheel; a hiss of air, and a brilliantly lit chamber with dazzling white tiles and stainless steel.

From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman