banister

noun

ˈba-nə-stər How to pronounce banister (audio)
variants also bannister
Definition of banisternext
as in railing
a protective barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and its supports a much-needed new banister for the rickety staircase

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of banister These include an Italian marble floor and dual stairways to the second floor that have solid bronze banisters from Brazil. — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 31 May 2026 The staircase is a floating composition of wood treads, steel posts and glass banisters. — Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 25 May 2026 Plan your visit to President Lincoln's Cottage At the cottage, visitors are invited to sit on 19th-century chairs and pull themselves up using the original wooden banister, unlike most historic homes. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 3 May 2026 Over the banister, moonlight spilled across the foyer and illuminated a gloved hand reaching through the jagged hole in the window beside the front door. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for banister
Recent Examples of Synonyms for banister
  1. railing
  2. rail
Noun
  • The entrance is a quiet and cavernous space with a magnificent spiral staircase made of stone with wrought iron railings.
    — Mary Holland, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In another video, the boy who was hit is near the railing in a corridor outside the classroom.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of railing
Noun
  • Chinese, Russian troops train together The PLA contingent traveled to Russia by road, rail and air and participated in the preparatory phase alongside forces from Russia, Belarus, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Tajikistan.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The rail network has an operating budget of more than $350 million and includes an average daily weekday ridership of more than 23,000 and an average weekend ridership of roughly 235,000.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of rail

Browse Nearby Words

banishments
banister
banisters
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Cite this Entry

“Banister.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banister. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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