staple: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal; common in everyday, business, and academic contexts.
Quick answer
What does “staple” mean?
A basic or essential commodity, item, or component.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A basic or essential commodity, item, or component; a main or principal element.
1. A piece of bent metal used to fasten papers together or to affix something to a surface. 2. A primary commodity that dominates trade or diet. 3. The central or most important part of something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use all meanings. The verb 'to staple' is equally common.
Connotations
Neutral in both. In business/economics, 'staple' implies reliable, fundamental, non-luxury.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English in the context of office supplies ('stapler').
Grammar
How to Use “staple” in a Sentence
[N] staple of [N] (e.g., a staple of the diet)[V] staple [N] to [N] (e.g., staple the pages together)[Adj] staple [N] (e.g., staple food)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “staple” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Could you staple these receipts to the expense form?
- The notice was stapled firmly to the community board.
American English
- Please staple your application to the cover sheet.
- He stapled the tarpaulin to the wooden frame.
adjective
British English
- Potatoes are a staple carbohydrate in many British meals.
- The documentary became a staple of evening television.
American English
- Corn is a staple crop across the Midwest.
- That show is a staple of late-night comedy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a core product or service that consistently generates revenue.
Academic
Used in economics, agriculture, and history to describe primary commodities or fundamental concepts.
Everyday
Commonly used for food, office supplies, and describing anything regularly used or needed.
Technical
In medicine/dentistry, refers to a metal clip for closing wounds. In construction, a U-shaped fastener.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “staple”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “staple”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “staple”
- Using 'staple' as a verb without an object (Incorrect: 'He stapled.' Correct: 'He stapled the documents.'). Confusing 'staple diet' (what one regularly eats) with 'stable diet' (a steady diet).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While commonly used for food (staple diet), it applies to any basic, essential item in a context (e.g., an office staple like paper clips, a staple of someone's wardrobe).
'Basic' describes simple, fundamental nature. 'Staple' adds the concept of being regularly used, depended upon, and central within a system or diet.
Yes. You can staple fabric, insulation, wiring, or tarpaulin to a surface using appropriate staplers (e.g., staple gun).
It comes from Old English 'stapol' meaning 'post, pillar', reflecting its core meaning of something that provides main support.
A basic or essential commodity, item, or component.
Staple is usually neutral to formal; common in everyday, business, and academic contexts. in register.
Staple: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsteɪp(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsteɪpəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Breadwinner and staple (rare, contextual)”
- “A staple of society/the community”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a STAPLE as something that STAYS fundamental and is PLaced at the core.
Conceptual Metaphor
ESSENTIAL ITEMS ARE ANCHORS / FUNDAMENTAL THINGS ARE FASTENERS.
Practice
Quiz
In an economic context, a 'staple' product is best described as: