plural statuses
often attributive
1
a
: position or rank when compared to others in a society, organization, group, etc.
the book's best-seller status
efforts to maintain the city's status as a major tourist attraction
socioeconomic status
Archaeology has high status because it is considered a hard science relative to other branches of social studies.—
Mark A. Blumler
Mark A. Blumler… became successful at a time when chefs in America began to be given celebrity status …—Michael Roberts
Michael Roberts
b
: relative rank in a hierarchy of prestige
especially
: high prestige
married a person of status and wealth
This job brings with it a measure of status.
2
: the official situation of a person or thing according to the law
immigration status
… senior IRS officials … ruled that the project was not entitled to tax-exempt status …—David Burnham
David Burnham… fighting an uphill battle to gain refugee status in Canada.—Daniel Eisenberg
Daniel Eisenberg3
: the current state or condition of someone or something with respect to circumstances
the status of the negotiations/project
employment/relationship status
The manager asked for a status report.
… always check with your airline about the status of your flight …—Jessica Puckett
Jessica PuckettExamples of status in a Sentence
They want to maintain the city's status as a major tourist attraction.
He wants to improve his status in the community.
people of different social and economic statuses
She married a man of status and wealth.
This job brings with it a measure of status.
They sought asylum and were given refugee status by the government.
They are still considered refugees. Their statuses have not changed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Can Wembanyama's rebounding reach, all-time status?
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Rarely translated into English, but revered in Japan for the purity of her classical language and her status as the country’s first professional woman writer, Ichiyo Higuchi drew on her own short life in a poor Tokyo neighbourhood to inspire her work.
—Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
The legal status of prediction markets is being debated in dozens of court cases across the country, and experts now believe the Supreme Court will eventually settle the question.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
The government has multiple programs for tracking Americans’ insurance status, which can give different numbers depending on factors like timing and question wording.
—Mike Stobbe, Fortune, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for status
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Rarely translated into English, but revered in Japan for the purity of her classical language and her status as the country’s first professional woman writer, Ichiyo Higuchi drew on her own short life in a poor Tokyo neighbourhood to inspire her work.
—Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
The legal status of prediction markets is being debated in dozens of court cases across the country, and experts now believe the Supreme Court will eventually settle the question.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
The government has multiple programs for tracking Americans’ insurance status, which can give different numbers depending on factors like timing and question wording.
—Mike Stobbe, Fortune, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for status
Cite this Entry
“Status.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/status. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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Medical Definition
Legal Definition
status
noun
sta·tus
ˈstā-təs, ˈsta- 
1
a
: the condition of a person or a thing in the eyes of the law
b
: position or rank in relation to others
2
: the current state of affairs
Etymology
Latin, mode or condition of being, from stare to stand
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