stanchion

American  

[stan-shuhn] / ˈstæn ʃən /

noun

1. an upright bar, beam, post, or support, as in a window, stall, ship, etc.

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verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with stanchions.

2. to secure by or to a stanchion or stanchions.

stanchion British  

/ ˈstɑːnʃən /

noun

1. any vertical pole, rod, etc, used as a support

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verb

1. (tr) to provide or support with a stanchion or stanchions

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.

Example Sentences

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

However, even with a payment method linked, there was an issue at the stanchion, as the scanner repeatedly prompted the addition of a payment method when trying to re-enter the seating area.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2024

The debris was determined to be part of a stanchion used to mount batteries on a cargo pallet.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2024

He landed near the basket stanchion and immediately began grabbing at his left knee, while teammates reacted in obvious disbelief.

From Washington Times • Apr. 23, 2023

I reached up and held on to the bottom of a stanchion.

From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos