# joists

/ˈdʒɔɪsts/ (US) · /dʒˈɔɪsts/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/joists
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

long strong beams under a floor or over a ceiling that hold it up. You see them in houses under construction before the walls are finished.

For teachers: parallel horizontal beams that support a floor or ceiling, transferring load to walls or larger beams.

## Examples

- Workers place wooden joists under the new floor.
- The builder checks the joists in the attic to make sure they can support the new water tank.
- Exposed in the renovated loft, the old oak joists still bore the marks of hand tools from a century earlier.

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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.