status quo

noun

: the existing state of affairs
seeks to preserve the status quo

Examples of status quo in a Sentence

He is content with the status quo and does not like change. civic leaders who are afraid to do anything that might change the town's status quo
Recent Examples on the Web Constructing those two extreme scenarios — ceasefire and escalation — as well as a status quo middle ground, required making a lot of assumptions. Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 1 Mar. 2024 This miscalculation arises as revenue is contingent on maintaining a certain level of status quo, which is typically disrupted following the acquisition. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 But Netanyahu’s hard-line vision, which includes Israel maintaining indefinite military control over the territory, was panned by analysts as a bid to kick the can down the road and restore an untenable status quo. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2024 For years, American diplomats had warned that this status quo was unsustainable and that another Palestinian uprising would soon emerge. Martin Indyk, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 This problematic status quo is also an expensive burden on our court system. Dan Daley, Sun Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2024 This status quo approach puts these companies and humanity on an apocalyptic trajectory. Wal Van Lierop, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Only Muslims are allowed to pray in the compound under a status quo arrangement originally reached more than a century ago. Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 15 Feb. 2024 Diminishing ice has become status quo in Minnesota. Patricia Leigh Brown, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'status quo.' 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

Latin, state in which

First Known Use

1719, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of status quo was in 1719

Dictionary Entries Near status quo

Cite this Entry

“Status quo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/status%20quo. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

status quo

noun
sta·​tus quo
ˌstāt-ə-ˈskwō,
ˌstat-
: the way things are now
chose to keep the status quo rather than make changes

Legal Definition

status quo

noun
: the existing state of affairs
specifically : the last actual and uncontested state of affairs that preceded a controversy and that is to be preserved by preliminary injunction compare status quo ante
Etymology

Latin, state in which

More from Merriam-Webster on status quo

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