stencil

verb

stenciled or stencilled; stenciling or stencilling ˈsten(t)-s(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to mark or paint with a stencil

2

: to produce by stencil

stenciler noun

or stenciller

ˈsten(t)-s(ə-)lər 

Examples of stencil in a Sentence

We stenciled the room's walls.

Recent Examples on the Web

Familiar drinks like lattes might contain special spices or honey; at Arwa, lattes features the outline of a camel stenciled in spices. —Dee-Ann Durbin, Twin Cities, 5 May 2026

The process involved stenciling all the pattern pieces, pre-staining them, and adding dragon skin silicone, a strong and stretchy mold material, which was painted with glue gel to give it that wet look. —Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 4 May 2026

Familiar drinks like lattes might contain special spices or honey; at Arwa, lattes features the outline of a camel stenciled in spices. —Dee-Ann Durbin, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026

Familiar drinks like lattes might contain special spices or honey; at Arwa, lattes features the outline of a camel stenciled in spices. —ABC News, 2 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stencil

• pencil
• tensile
• commensal
• prehensile
• utensil
• intercensal

Kids Definition

stencil

1 of 2 noun

sten·​cil ˈsten(t)-səl 

1

: a piece of material (as a sheet of paper) with lettering or a design that is cut out and through which ink or paint is forced onto a surface to be printed

2

: a design or print produced with a stencil

stencil

2 of 2 verb

stenciled or stencilled; stenciling or stencilling

-s(ə-)liŋ

1

: to paint with a stencil

2

: to produce by a stencil