staff

noun \ ˈstaf \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of staff

plural staffs play \ˈstafs, ˈstavz\ or staves play \ˈstavz, ˈstāvz\

1 a : a long stick carried in the hand for support in walking

b : a supporting rod: such as

(1) archaic : shaft 1a(1)

(2) : a crosspiece in a ladder or chair : rung

(3) : flagstaff

(4) : a pivoted arbor

c : club, cudgel

2 a : crosier

b : a rod carried as a symbol of office or authority

3 : the horizontal lines with their spaces on which music is written — called also stave

4 : any of various graduated sticks or rules used for measuring : rod

5 plural staffs

a : the officers chiefly responsible for the internal operations of an institution or business

b : a group of officers appointed to assist a civil executive or commanding officer

c : military or naval officers not eligible for operational command

d : the personnel who assist a director in carrying out an assigned task

e plural staff : a member of a staff

employs three full-time staff

—

staff

adjective

See staff defined for English-language learners

See staff defined for kids

Examples of staff in a Sentence

The entire staff has done a great job this year.
The staff is at a meeting.
She's a new member of the staff.
The general's staff is planning the army's next move.

Recent Examples of staff from the Web

Commuters were treated to free doughnuts and coffee from city staff — a thank-you for their patience through the years.

— alicia fabbre, Daily Southtown, "New train station opens for Metra, Amtrak riders in Joliet, ending a 6-year wait," 11 Apr. 2018
Even as Trump has considered overhauling his staff, including weighing whether Kelly should go, various crises have served to put off the decision.

— kevin liptak, CNN, "Kelly cedes control to new faces amid latest Trump tumult," 11 Apr. 2018
Businesses would apply directly to the Northeast Ohio Advanced Energy District, with their staff handling most of the paperwork.

— thomas jewell, cleveland.com, "Solon council keeps PACE with clean energy financing program," 11 Apr. 2018
Mastro, hired away from Mike Leach's staff at Washington State, spent 11 seasons coaching running backs at Nevada from 2000-10, helping to develop the Wolf Pack's Pistol offense.

— ron richmond for the oregonian/oregonlive, OregonLive.com, "Veteran Tony Brooks-James has 'rookie mindset' as he vies to be Oregon Ducks' starting running back," 10 Apr. 2018
Howard went from La Salle’s staff to Drexel under Bruiser Flint to a year at Xavier under Chris Mack to five years with Wright on the Main Line.

— mike jensen, Philly.com, "Ashley Howard, new coach at La Salle, knows his way around the city," 9 Apr. 2018
Sandra's family and friends are very thankful for the loving care Sandra received from the dedicated staff at St Mary Home and Masonicare Hospice.

— hartford courant, courant.com, "Sandra Bouchard," 8 Apr. 2018
Scarlett eventually would dust himself off and receive a second chance from a new coaching staff, led by Dan Mullen.

— edgar thompson, OrlandoSentinel.com, "UF tailback Jordan Scarlett returns from suspension determined to prove himself," 7 Apr. 2018
He was seen holding his groin, and was then substituted just five minutes into the second half, with the player heading straight down the tunnel to receive treatment from the medical staff.

— SI.com, "Mohamed Salah Limps Off for Liverpool vs. Man City in Champions League," 4 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'staff.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of staff

Middle English staf, from Old English stæf; akin to Old High German stab staff, Sanskrit stabhnāti he supports

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

staff Synonyms

Synonyms

bat, baton, billy, billy club, bludgeon, cane, club, cudgel, nightstick, rod, shillelagh (also shillalah), truncheon;

Related Words

blackjack, knobkerrie, mace;

birch, crabstick, hickory, rattan, stave, switch;

beetle, gavel, hammer, mallet, maul, sledgehammer;

crook, crosier (or crozier), walking stick;

staff

verb

Definition of staff

transitive verb

1 : to supply with a staff or with workers

2 : to serve as a staff member of

an organization staffed by volunteers

See staff defined for English-language learners

Examples of staff in a Sentence

We'll need 300 workers to properly staff the hotel.
the 300 workers who staff the hotel

Recent Examples of staff from the Web

The events, offered free for children age 15 and under, are staffed by members of local fishing clubs.

— paul a. smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: Crossbow season, walleye limits among topics at Wisconsin's spring hearings," 11 Apr. 2018
The shoppe is staffed by volunteers and all income goes to the church for its maintenance and its missions.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Enfield Edition," 10 Apr. 2018
The exhibit is self-contained in a mobile trailer and staffed with Doctors Without Borders volunteers from New Orleans, including Dr. Peter Reynaud a local physician and faculty member at the Tulane School of Medicine.

— maria clark, NOLA.com, "See the global refugee crisis through the eyes of medical aid workers and refugees," 9 Apr. 2018
Unlike another quadragenarian captain based in Boston, Chara doesn’t need some Z33 Sports Therapy Center staffed with svengalis to oversee his health.

— alex prewitt, SI.com, "The Legend of Z: Zdeno Chara Remains Obsessed in His Pursuit of Outsized Excellence," 3 Apr. 2018
The restaurant, which is staffed by members of the Medina County Recovery Center, is at 538 W. Liberty St. Gilbert Brenot is chef de cuisine for the restaurant, which will seat 65 diners.

— marc bona, cleveland.com, "Serenite Restaurant to open in Medina this month," 23 Mar. 2018
The center, which would be staffed and managed by the UAB Health System, will assist rural hospitals in purchasing and supply chain, strategic planning, insurance and cost reporting, coding, recruitment and compliance.

— erin edgemon, AL.com, "UAB Health System to launch resource center for rural hospitals," 22 Mar. 2018
Campaigns are ad hoc in nature because of their relatively short-lived usefulness; open by design because of their need to interact with diverse constituencies; and typically staffed with inexperienced, and often temporary, workers.

— nate fick, Fortune, "Commentary: It’s Time for a Cyber Secret Service," 20 Mar. 2018
INGRAHAM: Office of Professional Responsibility which is staffed with career professionals.

— Fox News, "FBI's Andrew McCabe fired, DOJ releases statement," 16 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of staff

1859

STAFF Defined for English Language Learners

staff

noun

Definition of staff for English Language Learners

: a group of people who work for an organization or business
: a group of military officers who help a commanding officer but who do not take part in active fighting
: a long stick that you carry in your hand for support while walking

staff

verb

Definition of staff for English Language Learners

: to supply (an organization or business) with workers
: to work for (an organization or business) as a member of a staff

STAFF Defined for Kids

staff

noun \ ˈstaf \

Definition of staff for Students

plural staffs or staves \ˈstavz\

1 : a pole, stick, rod, or bar used as a support or as a sign of authority

the staff of a flag

a bishop's staff

2 pl staffs : a group of persons serving as assistants to or employees under a chief

a hospital staff

the administrative staff

3 : the five parallel lines with their four spaces on which music is written

4 : something that is a source of strength

Bread is the staff of life.

5 pl staffs : a group of military officers who plan and manage for a commanding officer

Medical Dictionary

staff

noun \ ˈstaf \

medical Definition of staff

: the doctors and surgeons regularly attached to a hospital and helping to determine its policies and guide its activities

Learn More about staff

See words that rhyme with staff Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for staff Spanish Central: Translation of staff Nglish: Translation of staff for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of staff for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about staff

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staff

Examples of staff in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of staff

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Synonyms

Related Words

staff

Definition of staff

Examples of staff in a Sentence

Recent Examples of staff from the Web

First Known Use of staff

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Related Phrases

STAFF Defined for English Language Learners

staff

Definition of staff for English Language Learners

staff

Definition of staff for English Language Learners

STAFF Defined for Kids

staff

Definition of staff for Students

Medical Dictionary

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medical Definition of staff

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