stasis

1 of 2

noun

sta·​sis ˈstā-səs  ˈsta- 

plural stases ˈstā-ˌsēz  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

Synonyms of stasis

Noun

• equilibrium

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

As the team remained in stasis as the Jonathan Kuminga contract negotiation dragged through the summer, Looney signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Pelicans this offseason. —Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 30 Nov. 2025

Home video footage of a boisterous wedding party defies the atmosphere of stasis and decay; a shot of several burly men awkwardly steering coffin down a tight stairwell plays back into it. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Nov. 2025

Ann’s return home from New York is the catalyst that will smash this awkward stasis, but not in a good way, given that Chris and Ann want to marry. —Demetrios Matheou, HollywoodReporter, 22 Nov. 2025

Our faces, usually animated with shock, awe, or rage, were forced into stasis. —Lena Dunham, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2025

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

Rhymes for stasis

• basis
• glacis
• mesas
• stasis
• anabasis
• cholestasis
• haemostasis
• hemostasis
• hypostasis
• atelectasis
• bronchiectasis
• homeostasis

Medical Definition

stasis

noun

sta·​sis ˈstā-səs  ˈstas-əs 

plural stases ˈstā-ˌsēz  ˈstas-ˌēz 

: 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