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 of banister

• railing
• rail

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 store is anchored by a central staircase with a wrought-iron banister that ascends sinuously to the second floor, where Kiton is introducing a more intimate space dedicated to customization and made-to-measure. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2026

Style them along a bedroom headboard, bar cart, or staircase banister for a year-round glow. — Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2026

Even wandering through the hotel feels festive come December, when its Beaux-Arts Grand Lobby is decked with a 15-foot Christmas tree, glowing wreaths and banisters draped in magnolia. — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2026

Earlier this week, TMZ published a video that appeared to show massive white staircase banisters being craned into the building. — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 4 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of baluster

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for banister

• canister

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