stainless-steel
📖 Definitions
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noun
A type of steel alloy containing a minimum of approximately 10.5% chromium, which provides resistance to corrosion and staining, commonly used in cookware, cutlery, surgical instruments, and construction.
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adjective
Made of or relating to stainless steel; resistant to rust, corrosion, and staining.; Figuratively, free from moral blemish or stain; incorruptible, unblemished.
🔗 Details
Word forms
uncountable
Collocations
stainless-steel knifestainless-steel sinkstainless-steel appliancesstainless-steel cookwarestainless-steel surface
Derivatives
stainlesssteel
Synonyms
inoxcorrosion-resistant steel
Commonly confused
stainless
EN: 'Stainless' alone is a general adjective meaning 'free from stains or blemishes'; 'stainless steel' refers specifically to the chromium-containing alloy.
steel
EN: 'Steel' is the broader category of iron-carbon alloys; 'stainless steel' is a specific type that resists corrosion due to chromium content.
Spelling tips
EN: The hyphen is used when 'stainless steel' functions as a compound modifier before a noun (e.g., 'a stainless-steel pan'), but is typically omitted when used as a noun ('made of stainless steel').
💬 Examples
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The kitchen sink was made of high-quality stainless-steel.
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She preferred stainless-steel appliances because they were easy to clean and durable.
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His stainless-steel reputation remained untarnished throughout his long career.