still life

noun

plural still lifes

1

: a picture consisting predominantly of inanimate objects

2

: the category of graphic arts concerned with inanimate subject matter

Examples of still life in a Sentence

an exhibit of still lifes

She prefers portraiture to still life.

Recent Examples on the Web

There are throw pillows in floral prints, cozy jacquard throw blankets, marble catchall dishes, faux fall floral arrangements and autumnal still life prints, among other picks exciting us ahead of the new season. — ABC News, 22 July 2026

The untrained artist began drawing only in her seventies, but her still lifes, often made after dark with humble materials like everyday markers and ballpoint pen, bristle with energy. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 22 July 2026

Geneva painter Elizabeth Kindig – a still life and landscapes artist – will debut her paintings in front of the Kane County Historic Courthouse between James and Campbell streets during the upcoming fair. — Linda Girardi, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026

Look for Degas's ballerinas, Van Gogh's self-portraits, Toulouse-Lautrec's cancan dancers, Cézanne's still lifes, and Monet's Giverny gardens. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1695, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for still life

• alewife
• birdlife
• folklife
• housewife
• jackknife
• midlife
• midwife
• nightlife
• penknife
• wildlife
• afterlife
• pocketknife

Kids Definition

still life

noun

plural still lifes

: a picture of an arrangement of objects