What is silverware? Silver comes with properties that can help fight bacteria. Before disinfectants, the various utensils like cups, candlesticks, spoons, plates, and table-weights were coated in silver so as to keep them sanitary. With the advent of modern soaps and dishwashers, real silver was no longer necessary. Now, we use stainless-steel but the name stuck – any household utensil with that iconic shine is known as silverware. In modern days, however, 'silverware' has become another synonym for flatware. And Oneida is a synonym for top-of-the-line.