# aisle

/ˈaɪəɫ/ (US) · /ˈaɪəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/aisle
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. supermarket or shop

noun · CEFR B1

a long path between shelves in a shop or supermarket.

For teachers: a passage between shelves in a retail environment, typically used to categorise goods.

- You can find the pasta and rice in the third aisle on the left.
- The supermarket manager reorganised the frozen food aisle to improve the flow of customers during peak weekend hours.

### 2. seating area

noun · CEFR B1

a path between rows of seats in a plane, cinema, or church.

For teachers: a longitudinal passage between sections of seats in a public building or vehicle.

- The flight attendant walked down the aisle to check everyone's seatbelt.
- The bride walked slowly down the central aisle of the cathedral while the organist played the traditional wedding march.

### 3. political divide

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Formal

the imaginary line that separates two different political parties.

For teachers: the metaphorical divide between opposing political parties in a legislative body, particularly in the United States.

- Politicians from both sides of the aisle agreed to support the new law.
- The senator was known for his ability to reach across the aisle and build a bipartisan coalition on environmental issues.

Usage: Usually appears in the phrase 'across the aisle' or 'both sides of the aisle'.

Teaching tip: This sense is specific to political contexts where seating is divided by party; it is very common in American news media.

### 4. architecture

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a side part of a large church building, separated from the center by a row of pillars.

For teachers: a lateral division of a church, running parallel to the nave and separated from it by an arcade or colonnade.

- The north aisle of the cathedral contains several beautiful old statues.
- The architect designed the side aisles with lower ceilings to emphasize the soaring height of the central nave.

## Examples

- The grocery store aisle is full of cereal boxes.
- The senator decided to reach across the aisle to find a compromise with the opposing party.
- While the legislative body remained deeply divided on fiscal policy, a small group of moderates began working across the aisle to draft a bipartisan infrastructure bill.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.