stool

1 of 2

noun

ˈstül 

1

a

: a seat usually without back or arms supported by three or four legs or by a central pedestal

b

: a low bench or portable support for the feet or knees : footstool

2

: a seat used as a symbol of office or authority

also : the rank, dignity, office, or rule of a chieftain

3

a

: a discharge of fecal matter

b

: a seat used while defecating or urinating

4

a

: a stump or group of stumps of a tree especially when producing suckers

b

: a plant crown from which shoots grow out

c

: a shoot or growth from a stool

5

: stool pigeon sense 1

stool

2 of 2

verb

stooled; stooling; stools

intransitive verb

: to throw out shoots in the manner of a stool

Examples of stool in a Sentence

Noun

She sat on a stool.

The patient had bloody stools.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Lindley Arthur Interiors To decorate this new-construction lake house in Long Cove, Texas, Lindley Arthur Interiors used custom lanterns by Urban Electric, a light blue tiled backsplash, and counter stools by Rove Concepts. —Dan Howarth, Architectural Digest, 30 Jan. 2025

Beta-glucan blocks cholesterol absorption in the digestive tract, increasing the amount of cholesterol your body releases through stool. —Jillian Kubala, Rd, Health, 27 Jan. 2025

Verb

Pottery Barn Emily Upholstered Counter Stool Take advantage of this 50 percent discount and snag two upholstered bar stools for the price of one. —Maggie Horton, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025

It’s flanked by swing-arm sconces and walnut Burrow Index stools that act as minimalist nightstands day-to-day, but can also be used as extra seating for guests and to reach high-up storage. —Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English stōl; akin to Old High German stuol chair, Old Church Slavic stolŭ seat, throne

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1770, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing stool

• cucking stool
• cutty stool
• ducking stool
• step stool
• stool pigeon

Kids Definition

stool

noun

ˈstül

1

a

: a seat without back or arms supported by three or four legs or by a central post

b

: footstool

2

a

: a seat used while urinating or having a bowel movement

b

: a mass of bodily waste discharged from the intestine in a bowel movement

Medical Definition

stool

noun

ˈstül 

: a discharge of fecal matter