The chemisorption of oxygen on the vicinal Cu͑211͒ surface and the subsequent reconstructions have been studied by means of He-atom scattering, spot profile analysis-low-energy electron diffraction, scanning tunneling microscopy, and Auger-electron spectroscopy. At temperatures below 250 K oxygen adsorbs without any pronounced ordering whereas at elevated temperatures above 300 K the surface starts to reconstruct and the formation of double steps occurs. Several ordered superstructures have been identified that depend on the thermal activation. The double steps are thermally stable up to 800 K. Experiments for very low oxygen coverages indicate that the reconstruction starts initially at the step edges and involves later subsurface oxide formation. Preliminary measurements for a regularly kinked surface reveal a similar oxygen-induced reconstruction. ͓S0163-1829͑98͒10439-3͔