1. the main vertical timber or metal piece at the stern of a ship to which the rudder is attached
Usage: nautical; plural form

Examples

• The shipwright carefully inspected the sternposts for any signs of damage.
• Both sternposts needed reinforcement before the vessel could sail again.
• The rudder hinges were securely fastened to the sternposts.
• During the repair, workers replaced the damaged sternposts with new steel ones.
• The old wooden sternposts had weathered decades of ocean voyages.
• Marine surveyors examined the sternposts as part of the hull inspection.