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stepladder

American

[step-lad-er] / ˈstɛpˌlæd ər /

noun

a ladder having flat steps or treads in place of rungs.
any ladder, especially a tall one with a hinged frame opening up to form four supporting legs.

stepladder British

/ ˈstɛpˌlædə /

noun

a folding portable ladder that is made of broad flat steps fixed to a supporting frame hinged at the top to another supporting frame

"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 stepladder

First recorded in 1745–55; step + ladder

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.

We use a stepladder from the receiving room to bring down some gems.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 22, 2023

A small stepladder with three steps bisects the bunks.

From Washington Post • Apr. 12, 2023

On a recent Sunday, in a makeshift structure used as a halfway house for adolescent bats, he climbed a stepladder to fill a water bucket hanging on the wall for the bats.

From New York Times • Apr. 4, 2023

At the first station, she parked, put on her flashers, then got out a roll of aluminum duct tape and a folding stepladder.

From Slate • Jul. 30, 2022

At last she moved the stepladder directly in front of the place and took a step up, glancing sideways at Mr. Randolph.

From "The Great Gilly Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson

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