For other meanings of the term, see Stern (disambiguation).

The stern is the rear or after part of a ship or boat, technically defined as the area built up over the sternpost , extending upwards from the counter to the taffrail .

The stern area has always been the location of the steering apparatus (rudder, tiller, ship's wheel, etc), and by extension became the domain of the ship's captain and other officers. In particular, the stern was the location of the officers' quarters, and during the age of sail became the most opulent part of the ship, with rows of windows, galleries, walkways, and elaborate decorations. This resulted in a certain amount of vulnerability, and the goal of much maneuvering in battle was to achieve the stern rake , in which a ship would pour its entire broadside into the stern.

Other features of the stern included lanterns and the ensign.

In the early part of the 19th century, the stern of larger ships became gradually more rounded, and with the advent of screw-powered vessels, the stern became the location of the equipment, the officers moving elsewhere.

In modern cruise ships, the stern is frequently the location of the dining room, so as to provide uninterrupted views of the sea on three sides.