stainless

1 of 2

adjective

stain·​less ˈstān-ləs 

1

: free from stain or stigma

… the stainless purity of his boyish life …

—Oscar Wilde

2

a

: highly resistant to stain or corrosion

b

: made from materials resistant to stain

stainless silverware

stainlessly adverb

stainless

2 of 2

noun

: tableware made of stainless steel

Synonyms of stainless

Adjective

• pristine
• immaculate
• clean
• shiny
• spotless

Examples of stainless in a Sentence

Adjective

nothing less than a perfectly stainless sheet of parchment would do for a diploma

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Earle took one and then laid on a stainless-steel counter, filming a TikTok. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026

In the coming weeks, permanent plaza fences will be erected here — curvy stainless-steel structures that MAD Architects principal Dixon Junliang Lu compared to the lacy filigree of Art Nouveau architecture. — Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Noun

To ensure things do not stick to your stainless, look for the Leidenfrost Effect—getting the skillet hot enough that water literally beads up, creating a layer of steam between the pan and your food. — Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025

Most Airbnb kitchens are equipped with thin stainless or nonstick pans that distribute heat unevenly (and are often warped). — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1953, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing stainless

• stainless steel

Rhymes for stainless

• brainless
• painless
• rainless