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

Here — with stainless-steel kegs nearby and bartenders pouring pilsners and pale ales under market lights and beach balls — wrestlers launch off the top rope in raucous displays of acrobatics. —Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026

Their stainless-steel barbecue is almost 6 feet wide. —Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 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