static

1 of 3

adjective

stat·​ic ˈsta-tik How to pronounce static (audio)
1
: exerting force by reason of weight alone without motion
2
: of or relating to bodies at rest or forces in equilibrium
3
: showing little change
a static population
4
a
: characterized by a lack of movement, animation, or progression
b
: producing an effect of repose or quiescence
a static design
5
a
: standing or fixed in one place : stationary
b
of water : stored in a tank but not under pressure
6
: of, relating to, or producing stationary charges of electricity : electrostatic
7
: of, relating to, or caused by radio static
statical adjective
statically adverb

static

2 of 3

noun

1
: noise produced in a radio or television receiver by atmospheric or various natural or man-made electrical disturbances
also : the electrical disturbances producing this noise
2
: heated opposition or criticism
staticky adjective

-static

3 of 3

adjective combining form

1
: of or relating to a position or state
orthostatic
2
: inhibiting the growth of
fungistatic

Example Sentences

Adjective the static installation of the statue in that niche means that no one will ever see its back, which is also of interest Noun There was so much static on the radio we couldn't hear the broadcast. He was getting a lot of static about his decision.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Caffarelli began his research by initially devoting himself to static problems—those that do not change over time. Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 23 Mar. 2023 Encounters at the End of the World (2007, directed by Werner Herzog) Many of us imagine Antarctica as a static place, a flat sheet of white ice spanning a continent. Robyn Bahr, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2023 With Canvas, artists can create short-form visuals that replace the static album cover art that usually graces smartphone screens. Adam Rumanek, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023 AEEZO Wi-Fi Digital Picture Frame Now 50% Off Digital picture frames add a new dimension to family photos, drawing your attention to its programmable cycling of images like no static frame could. Tyler Lynch, Popular Mechanics, 22 Mar. 2023 Another plus is that the material isn't static-y and repels dog hair for the most part! Kelsey Stiegman, Seventeen, 21 Mar. 2023 But three minutes in, a rising tide of static overtakes the music. Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2023 Minton acknowledged the state of ads on the platform isn’t perfect yet, and the company has taken steps to reduce their intrusiveness through static, in-player ads and disabling preroll ads if creators display at least three minutes of ads per hour. Ash Parrish, The Verge, 21 Mar. 2023 Master mask carvers have long been celebrated for their ability to create a static face that seems to come alive, its expression changing with the angle of the performer’s head and the way the light hits its features. Hannah Kirshner Bon Duke, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2023
Noun
Mined repositories for nuclear waste must therefore find uncommon locations, ones where the rock is tight and the water static, ensuring that leaks at the repository won’t move far, even after millennia. Howard Lee, Ars Technica, 17 Mar. 2023 The dryer features Ionic technology that helps reduce frizz and static, leaving your hair soft and smooth. Rebecca Carhart, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2023 That Goldberg makes so much more than Governor Maura Healey is due, in part, to Healey’s predecessor, Charlie Baker, who repeatedly turned down past raises, keeping the governor’s salary static. Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Feb. 2023 There’s also a fine recommendation for music to clear the static from your mind in the morning. Glenn Whippcolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2023 Imagine a film of urban life stuck on a single frame, the image static and the soundtrack inaudible. Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2023 Eventually, over the speaker system the conductor said something that no one could understand for the static, leaving everyone as mystified as slow horses stuck on the underground. Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2022 Does Allen keep his defense static, leaving Pierre to deal with Palmer when he’s lined up inside? Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Sep. 2022 On the radio, which was playing through a CD-cassette boom box, an announcer read the temperatures and wind speeds of various villages over a gentle hiss of static. Emily Witt, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2022 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

New Latin staticus, from Greek statikos causing to stand, skilled in weighing, from histanai to cause to stand, weigh — more at stand

Noun

static electricity

Adjective combining form

New Latin -staticus, from staticus

First Known Use

Adjective

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1928, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of static was in 1640

Dictionary Entries Near static

Cite this Entry

“Static.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/static. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

static

1 of 2 adjective
stat·​ic ˈstat-ik How to pronounce static (audio)
1
: of or relating to bodies at rest or forces that are balanced
static friction
2
: showing little change
a static population
3
: marked by a lack of movement, liveliness, or progress
4
: of, relating to, or producing stationary charges of electricity (as those produced by friction)

static

2 of 2 noun
: noise produced in a radio or television receiver by atmospheric or electrical disturbances

Medical Definition

static

adjective
stat·​ic ˈstat-ik How to pronounce static (audio)
1
: characterized by a lack of movement or change
a static condition
2
statically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on static

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