stasis

1 of 2

noun

sta·​sis ˈstā-səs How to pronounce stasis (audio)
ˈsta-
plural stases ˈstā-ˌsēz How to pronounce stasis (audio)
ˈsta-
1
: a slowing or stoppage of the normal flow of a bodily fluid or semifluid: such as
a
: slowing of the current of circulating blood
b
: reduced motility of the intestines with retention of feces
2
a
: a state of static balance or equilibrium : stagnation
b
: a state or period of stability during which little or no evolutionary change in a lineage occurs

-stasis

2 of 2

noun combining form

plural -stases
1
: stoppage : slowing
hemostasis
bacteriostasis
2
: stable state
homeostasis

Examples of stasis in a Sentence

Noun The country is in economic stasis. His art was characterized by bursts of creativity followed by long periods of stasis.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Rabbit owners must be familiar with this common and dangerous condition known as gastrointestinal stasis. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Season 5 never quite figured out how to make drama out of bureaucratic stasis, and so every season since has seemed like an eventful counter-reaction. Darren Franich, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024 Running semi-jokes about mask-wearing anxiety and hygiene theater feel entirely played out by 2024, and well beneath Assayas’ abilities as a writer, while Paul’s sporadic fretting about career stasis and creative blockage is countered by others reminding him of his rampant privilege. Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Feb. 2024 Cryogenic preservation aims to induce a state of complete stasis in the body by freezing it. Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 8 Feb. 2024 To that end, every one of the main characters is coping with some kind of emotional stasis, which contributes to the narrative’s lethargic pacing. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 23 Jan. 2024 What most policymakers had hoped for, a geopolitical stasis reinforced by economic dependencies, is not sustainable long-term. Charles Beames, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 What's happening on the battlefield, though, is -- is a stasis. ABC News, 31 Dec. 2023 The fossil record clearly showed stasis in traits over time. Quanta Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stasis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

New Latin, from Greek, act or condition of standing, stopping, from histasthai to stand — more at stand

Noun combining form

New Latin, from Greek stasis

First Known Use

Noun

1745, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stasis was in 1745

Dictionary Entries Near stasis

Cite this Entry

“Stasis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stasis. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

stasis

noun
: a slowing or stoppage of the normal flow of a bodily fluid or semifluid
biliary stasis
: as
a
: slowing of the current of circulating blood
b
: reduced motility of the intestines with retention of feces

More from Merriam-Webster on stasis

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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