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stasis

noun
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sta·​sis | \ ˈstā-səs How to pronounce stasis (audio) , ˈsta- \
plural stases\ ˈstā-​ˌsēz How to pronounce stases (audio) , ˈsta-​ \

Definition of stasis

 (Entry 1 of 2)

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
2a : 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

noun combining form
plural -stases

Definition of -stasis (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : stoppage : slowing hemostasis bacteriostasis
2 : stable state homeostasis
Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about stasis

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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 There were short spikes of speciation interspersed by longer periods of stasis. — Daniel Oberhaus, Wired, "A Ball of Bacteria Survived for 3 Years ... in Space!," 26 Aug. 2020 Another week has passed in our strange sort of stasis, with no real movement on another stimulus package. — Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, "The Capital Letter: Week of August 17," 21 Aug. 2020 In the finale, May (Ming-Na Wen) was fatally wounded and placed in a stasis pod, as an upgraded, time-traveling version of their ship, the Zephyr One, zapped them several decades into the past, where they were trapped going into S7. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. takes final bow with high-octane journey through time," 14 Aug. 2020 The 1580s through the 1620s is a time of stasis and transition in Spanish religious painting. — Brian T. Allen, National Review, "El Greco Sizzles in Chicago, in Paris, Not So Much," 15 Aug. 2020 And her pacing can be leisurely sometimes to the point of stasis. — Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, "Emily Mortimer house horror Relic brings extra psychological layers: Review," 10 July 2020 Both movies consider the possibility of personal growth for young men in a kind of emotional stasis, caught up in hard-to-escape loops, whether figurative or literal. — Brian Lowry, CNN, "'Palm Springs' is like 'Groundhog Day' all over (and over) again," 10 July 2020 One interstitial word stresses the possibility of transformation rather than stasis: liminal. — Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, "We’re in a ‘liminal’ moment, rather than ‘in limbo’," 11 June 2020 So while Scott certainly needs to embrace adulthood, that involves an arc of trauma, stasis, and recovery—themes Apatow has never delved into quite so intensely before. — David Sims, The Atlantic, "Judd Apatow Is Okay With Not Being Funny," 11 June 2020

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

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First Known Use of stasis

Noun

1745, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for stasis

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

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Time Traveler for stasis

Time Traveler

The first known use of stasis was in 1745

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Statistics for stasis

Last Updated

1 Sep 2020

Cite this Entry

“Stasis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stasis. Accessed 26 Sep. 2020.

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More Definitions for stasis

stasis

noun
How to pronounce -stasis (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of stasis

formal : a state or condition in which things do not change, move, or progress

See the full definition for stasis in the English Language Learners Dictionary

stasis

noun
sta·​sis | \ ˈstā-səs How to pronounce stasis (audio) , ˈstas-əs How to pronounce stasis (audio) \
plural stases\ ˈstā-​ˌsēz How to pronounce stases (audio) , ˈstas-​ˌēz How to pronounce stases (audio) \

Medical Definition of stasis

: 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

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for stasis

Nglish: Translation of stasis for Spanish Speakers

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