stilt

Short definition: The word stilt means a wading bird with very long thin legs and a slim body, commonly found in shallow wetlands, known for delicate appearance, steady walking style, and feeding on small aquatic creatures.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the word stilt? The word stilt is used in tools, construction, performance, and nature writing. It can refer to a long support used to stand or walk above the ground, a tall wading bird with very long legs, or a stiff and unnatural way of speaking. You will hear it in carpentry, festivals, birdwatching, and descriptions of behavior or language. Because it appears in very different contexts, its meaning depends strongly on how it is used. Below, each meaning is explained in a calm and natural way, with enough detail to feel clear, human, and practical.

Forms: stilt, stilts, stilted
Related: support n., wader n., artificial adj.
Syllable: stilt

1. (Noun) A long pole or support used to stand or walk above the ground.

   A stilt is a long wooden or metal pole used in pairs to raise a person or structure above the ground, often seen in construction work, traditional festivals, performances, or buildings designed to avoid water or uneven terrain.

   The performers walked confidently on tall stilts during the parade drawing attention as they moved above the crowd.
   Houses in flood prone areas are sometimes built on stilts to keep them safe from rising water.
   Learning to balance on stilts takes practice patience and careful control of movement.

   Synonyms: pole support, raised support, leg extension, height support, elevated pole, walking pole, support beam, raised footing, elevation device, long support stick, height aid, elevation tool
   Antonyms: ground level, flat base, floor support, low footing, foundation slab, ground contact, solid ground, base level, ground surface, low platform, direct support, earth level

2. (Noun) A long legged wading bird that lives near shallow water.

   In bird terminology, a stilt refers to a slender shorebird with extremely long legs and a thin bill, commonly found wading in shallow wetlands lagoons or coastal flats while feeding on small aquatic creatures.

   The stilt moved gracefully through the shallow water its long legs allowing it to search for food without getting wet.
   Birdwatchers recognized the stilt instantly because of its striking leg length and elegant posture.
   Stilts often gather in open wetlands where water levels are low and food is plentiful.

   Synonyms: wading bird, shorebird, wetland bird, long legged bird, coastal wader, lagoon bird, water edge bird, slender wader, aquatic feeder, marsh bird, shallow water bird, migratory wader
   Antonyms: forest bird, tree dwelling bird, domestic bird, flightless bird, land bird, raptor, ground feeder, woodland species, cage bird, urban bird, non wading bird, inland bird

3. (Adjective) Artificially formal stiff or unnatural in style or behavior.

   Stilted describes speech writing or behavior that feels overly formal awkward or unnatural, as if the person is trying too hard to sound correct instead of speaking freely.

   His speech sounded stilted because he was reading directly from a script and avoiding natural expressions.
   The dialogue in the film felt stilted making the characters seem less believable.
   She relaxed once the conversation became less stilted and more natural.

   Synonyms: stiff, awkward, unnatural, formal sounding, rigid, forced, artificial, wooden, overly proper, constrained, rehearsed, mechanical
   Antonyms: natural, relaxed, casual, fluent, smooth, easy, conversational, spontaneous, genuine, comfortable, flowing, informal