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 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 Its ascent is marked by an undulating golden mural, while a domed display cabinet built into the banister allows for a close encounter with Piaget creations. — Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 8 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for banister
Recent Examples of Synonyms for banister
  1. railing
  2. rail
Noun
  • Now is the time to nail down loose boards, clean debris out of gaps and tighten loose railings.
    — Alora Bopray, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Improvements would include repairing the aging triple cantilever and fixing drainage, railings and lighting.
    — Elijah Westbrook, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of railing
Noun
  • Contributing factors to that could be a low number of axles, like with a solo locomotive, contaminants on the rails, or rust and other conditions that cause poor wheel-to-rail connections, according to the bulletin.
    — Marni Pyke, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The Expo Line finally connected downtown to the ocean, a milestone for rail.
    — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of rail

Browse Nearby Words

banishments
banister
banisters
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Banister.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banister. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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