stanchion
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
-
to furnish with stanchions.
-
to secure by or to a stanchion or stanchions.
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
stanchionsimple
-
stanchionssimple
-
have stanchionedperfect
-
has stanchionedperfect
-
am stanchioningprogressive
-
are stanchioningprogressive
-
is stanchioningprogressive
-
have been stanchioningperfect progressive
-
has been stanchioningperfect progressive
Past
-
stanchionedsimple
-
had stanchionedperfect
-
was stanchioningprogressive
-
were stanchioningprogressive
-
had been stanchioningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of stanchion
1375–1425; late Middle English stanchon < Old French estanchon, equivalent to estanche (variant of estance, probably < Vulgar Latin *stantia, equivalent to Latin stant- (stem of stāns ), present participle of stāre to stand + -ia -y 3 ) + -on noun suffix
Explanation
A stanchion is a post or rod used to support something. Stanchions hold things up. You can almost see the word stand in stanchion, and that should help you remember what it means. A stanchion stands straight up, and it supports a larger structure. In just about any building, you will see posts going from the floor to the ceiling: those are stanchions. Stanchions are part of many walls too. If you took the stanchions out, the building might fall down. Stanchions always go up and down; they're vertical and provide support.
Vocabulary lists containing stanchion
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Heart of Darkness
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Class Matters
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
That’s because it plans to run two lines simultaneously on either side of a new, shorter stanchion.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 15, 2025
Teammate Aliyah Boston tried to console Clark as she walked to the basket stanchion and tapped her forehead against it before sitting down and covering her head with a towel.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2025
The debris was determined to be part of a stanchion used to mount batteries on a cargo pallet.
From BBC • Apr. 16, 2024
During red-zone drills, Wentz threw a dart into the back of the end zone, and Cole Turner dived for it, accidentally going headfirst into the field goal stanchion.
From Washington Post • Aug. 1, 2022
Stretching from the front pulpit to a back stanchion and all around the Frog were stainless-steel lifelines rigged in stout stainless-steel posts.
From "The Voyage Of The Frog" by Gary Paulsen
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.
