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stairwell

American  
[stair-wel] / ˈstɛərˌwɛl /
Or stair well

noun

  1. the vertical shaft or opening containing a stairway.

stairwell British  
/ ˈstɛəˌwɛl /

noun

  1. a vertical shaft or opening that contains a staircase

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of stairwell

First recorded in 1915–20; stair + well 2

Compare meaning

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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.

The stairwell next door "bought new radiators, repaired the utilities together," she said, enviously.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

They headed for the stairwell, climbing nine floors in the dark.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

At about 6:30 p.m., police officers kicked down the stairwell door, Levine said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 14, 2025

“What if something happens and that one stairwell is blocked?” said Sean DeCrane with the International Assn. of Fire Fighters union.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 23, 2025

The birds crept out from the stairwell and peeked around a corner.

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.