stern

UK: /ˈstɜːn/ US: /stɝn/ ,(stûrn)

Inflections of 'stern' (adj):

sterner

adj comparative

sternest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

stern¹ /stɜrn/   adj., -er, -est. 

1. firm, strict, or exacting:
   stern discipline.
2. hard, harsh, or severe:
   a stern reprimand.
3. difficult and unpleasantly serious:
   going through stern times.
4. grim or forbidding in appearance:
   a stern expression.

stern•ly, adv.: 

The judge spoke sternly to the lawyer.

stern•ness, n. [uncountable]

stern² /stɜrn/   n. [countable]

1. Nautical, Naval Terms the rear part of a vessel or boat (often opposed to stem).
2. the back or rear of anything.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

stern¹ (stûrn),  adj., -er, -est. 

1. firm, strict, or uncompromising:
   stern discipline.
2. hard, harsh, or severe:
   a stern reprimand.
3. rigorous or austere;
   of an unpleasantly serious character:
   stern times.
4. grim or forbidding in aspect:
   a stern face.

• bef. 1000; Middle English; Old English styrne

stern′ly, adv. 
stern′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1, 2. adamant, unrelenting, unsympathetic, cruel, unfeeling.
  Stern, severe, harsh agree in referring to methods, aspects, manners, or facial expressions.
  Stern implies uncompromising, inflexible firmness, and sometimes a hard, forbidding, or withdrawn aspect or nature:
  a stern parent.
  Severe implies strictness, lack of sympathy, and a tendency to impose a hard discipline on others:
  a severe judge.
  Harsh suggests a great severity and roughness, and cruel, unfeeling treatment of others:
  a harsh critic.

Antonyms

• 1. lenient.

stern² (stûrn),  n. 

1. Nautical, Naval Terms the after part of a vessel (often opposed to stem).
2. the back or rear of anything.
3. Astronomy (cap.) the constellation Puppis.
4. Sport [Fox Hunting.] the tail of a hound.

• Old Norse stjōrn steering (done aft; see sternpost)
• Middle English sterne, probably 1250–1300

Stern (stûrn),  n. 

1. Biographical Isaac, born 1920, U.S. violinist, born in Russia.
2. Biographical Otto, 1888–1969, U.S. physicist, born in Germany: Nobel prize 1943.

stern-, 

1. var. of sterno- before a vowel:
   sternite.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

stern / stɜːn/ adjective

1. showing uncompromising or inflexible resolve; firm, strict, or authoritarian
2. lacking leniency or clemency; harsh or severe
3. relentless; unyielding: the stern demands of parenthood
4. having an austere or forbidding appearance or nature

Etymology: Old English styrne; related to Old High German stornēn to alarm, Latin sternāx stubborn, Greek stereos hard

ˈsternly adverb

ˈsternness noun

stern / stɜːn/ noun

1. the rear or after part of a vessel, opposite the bow or stem
2. the rear part of any object

adjective

1. relating to or located at the stern

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old Norse stjōrn steering; see steer¹

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

Sterno  (stûr′nō), 

1. Chemistry, Trademarks [Trademark.] flammable hydrocarbon jelly packaged in a small can for use as a portable heat source for cooking.

sterno-, 

1. Anatomy a combining form representing sternum in compound words:
   sternocostal.

Also,[esp. before a vowel,] stern-. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Stern / stɜːn/ noun

1. Isaac. 1920–2001, US concert violinist, born in (what is now) Ukraine