variants also bannister
Definition of banisternext
as in railing
a protective barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and its supports a much-needed new banister for the rickety staircase

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of banister These include an Italian marble floor and dual stairways to the second floor that have solid bronze banisters from Brazil. — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 31 May 2026 The staircase is a floating composition of wood treads, steel posts and glass banisters. — Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 25 May 2026 Plan your visit to President Lincoln's Cottage At the cottage, visitors are invited to sit on 19th-century chairs and pull themselves up using the original wooden banister, unlike most historic homes. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 3 May 2026 Over the banister, moonlight spilled across the foyer and illuminated a gloved hand reaching through the jagged hole in the window beside the front door. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for banister
Recent Examples of Synonyms for banister
Noun
  • Fix the easy hazards first The NIA recommends going room by room and addressing immediate dangers like poor lighting and loose stair railings before taking on bigger projects.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The crash scattered pieces of the vehicle around the property and damaged a railing, melted plastic and knocked a section of brick from the building's exterior.
    — Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Incidents have continued to pile up — at defense facilities in Estonia, rail networks in Poland and the power grid in Germany.
    — Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 26 Sep. 2026
  • So get ready to ride the rails because these beautiful train trips in Italy are just as much about the journey as the destination.
    — Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Banister.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banister. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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