stemware

American

[stem-wair] / ˈstɛmˌwɛər /

noun

glass or crystal vessels, especially for beverages and desserts, having rounded bowls mounted on footed stems.

stemware British

/ ˈstɛmˌwɛə /

noun

a collective term for glasses, goblets, etc, with stems

"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 stemware

First recorded in 1925–30; stem ¹ + ware ¹

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.

Lawrence’s childhood home—the narrator is awed and cowed by the impossibly delicate stemware and casual references to “Finnegan’s Wake.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

Amber-colored stemware and creamy white dishes harmonize perfectly, showcasing the thoughtfully curated palette that dances between black and orange.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 3, 2023

“When you have Raynaud’s, stemware is your friend,” she adds.

From Washington Post • Jul. 25, 2022

This stemware collection by seasoned hostess and attorney Lillian Alexander will give your next gathering a stunning refresh.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2022

They sat at tables spread with crisp white linen tablecloths and gleaming silverware and crystal stemware and platters heaped with hot food.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

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