stencil

1 of 2

noun

sten·​cil ˈsten(t)-səl 

1

: an impervious material (such as a sheet of paper, thin wax, or woven fabric) perforated with lettering or a design through which a substance (such as ink, paint, or metallic powder) is forced onto a surface to be printed

2

: something (such as a pattern, design, or print) that is produced by means of a stencil

3

: a printing process that uses a stencil

stencil

2 of 2

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

Noun

The walls of the living room had a delicate vine stencil drawn on them.

Verb

We stenciled the room's walls.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The original designs were created using various indigo dyeing techniques, such as stencil dyeing, discharge dyeing, and tie-dyeing. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 12 May 2025

Instead, the 54 rooms and four suites feature walls decorated with playful gold stencil motifs and views of either the Seine or the quay, and kids and adults alike will love the novelty of sleeping on a boat. —Celeste Moure, AFAR Media, 2 May 2025

Verb

Jonah Platt has been an advocate against antisemitism, and has repeatedly spoke out against Kanye West, such as after the rapper stenciled swastikas on his buildings. —James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2025

The original drawing of the monorail, stenciled by Gurr within three days of getting the assignment and colored by John Hench, hangs in Gurr’s living room. —Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably ultimately from Middle English stanseld brightly ornamented, from Anglo-French estencelé spangled, past participle of estenceler to sparkle, from estencele spark, from Vulgar Latin *stincilla, alteration of Latin scintilla

First Known Use

Noun

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

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