banister

noun

ban·​is·​ter ˈba-nə-stər 

variants or less commonly bannister

1

a

: a handrail with its supporting posts

b

: handrail

2

: baluster sense 2

banistered

ˈba-nə-stərd 

adjective

Synonyms

• balustrade
• guardrail
• rail
• railing

Examples of banister in a Sentence

The children love to slide down the banister.

She held the banister tightly.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Environmental Protection Agency warns parents of young children living in older homes to be aware of high-use areas such as window sills, doors, door frames, stairs, railings, banisters and porches. —Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 5 Dec. 2024

As Glinda the good witch, Grande slides across the floor, dances on a banister and swings from a chandelier — all while singing live in a seven-minute theatrical extravaganza. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2024

Drape your banister with an on-sale garland from The Holiday Aisle or The Twillery Co., and don’t forget to hang stockings on the mantel, as well. —Megan Schaltegger, People.com, 29 Nov. 2024

Once the glue is cooled, hang the garland on your mantel, banister, or TV stand. —Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

alteration of baluster

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

banister

noun

ban·​is·​ter

variants also bannister

ˈban-ə-stər

1

: one of the slender posts used to support the handrail of a staircase

2

: a handrail with its supporting posts

3

: the handrail of a staircase