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
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
1
: of or relating to a position or state
orthostatic
2
: inhibiting the growth of
fungistatic
Synonyms
Examples of static in a Sentence
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
Tiney Ricciardi, The Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2024
The static passenger numbers and loss of airline routes suggest that Oakland airport is right-sized for the East Bay and contradict airport administrators’ claim that the airport needs to expand by building a big new terminal to accommodate 55% more flights.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
This means the thought of floating down the Rhine on a 12-day river cruise while locked in with a static set of human beings has all the makings of me losing my mind.
—Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
Also, don’t stay completely static once you’re seated: Set a reminder on your calendar every hour to move for even a minute or two—or do some gentle twisting in your chair.
—Ashley Abramson, SELF, 25 Mar. 2024
NordVPN offers static IP addresses for $5.89 per month ($70.68 with an annual VPN subscription).
—PCMAG, 27 Mar. 2024
Lightning is basically a huge, static electric shock inside a storm cloud.
—USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024
The Parisienne’s static archetype seemed to embrace less normative, narrow ideals towards a wider scope of lifestyles and choices.
—Alice Pfeiffer, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024
This type of training is known as isometric, or static, exercise, according to the Mayo Clinic.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024
Moran Zavdi, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
This moving sound was embedded in bursts of stationary background noise resembling radio static that were randomly positioned in space and time.
—Ione Fine, The Conversation, 18 Dec. 2023
A certain kind of psychotherapist would tell you that any photo is an act of acquisition—the photographer is trying to possess, to capture, to make static—and that the shutter-happy mom embodies the archetype of the Oedipal Mother, who is trying to devour her own children.
—Meghan O'Gieblyn, WIRED, 25 Mar. 2024
There are three basic types of stretching: static, like a runner lifting their leg and holding it behind them; dynamic, like the same runner actively swinging their leg through its full range of motion; and pre-contraction stretching, which involves both contracting and stretching a muscle.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2024
Targets range from either static or those attached to robotic dummies or drones.
—Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2024
Hair Repair Remedies Gift Set Tatcha Japanese Indigo Cleanse + Nourish Fragrance-Free Skincare Duo
Ulta
Ulta is offering a ton of hair care deals on shampoos, conditioners, and popular silk pillowcases to prevent hair breakage and static.
—Jake Smith, Glamour, 24 Jan. 2024
Upon plugging it in, nothing but static came from the amp connected to Gay’s Squier Stratocaster.
—Spin Contributor, SPIN, 28 Feb. 2024
Our skin and hair felt more hydrated after just a few uses, and the static in our clothes disappeared.
—Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2024
Adjective
There are innumerable styles and weights; some fold down to fit in backpacks and others remain a static height.
—Tiney Ricciardi, The Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2024
The static passenger numbers and loss of airline routes suggest that Oakland airport is right-sized for the East Bay and contradict airport administrators’ claim that the airport needs to expand by building a big new terminal to accommodate 55% more flights.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
This means the thought of floating down the Rhine on a 12-day river cruise while locked in with a static set of human beings has all the makings of me losing my mind.
—Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
Also, don’t stay completely static once you’re seated: Set a reminder on your calendar every hour to move for even a minute or two—or do some gentle twisting in your chair.
—Ashley Abramson, SELF, 25 Mar. 2024
NordVPN offers static IP addresses for $5.89 per month ($70.68 with an annual VPN subscription).
—PCMAG, 27 Mar. 2024
Lightning is basically a huge, static electric shock inside a storm cloud.
—USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024
The Parisienne’s static archetype seemed to embrace less normative, narrow ideals towards a wider scope of lifestyles and choices.
—Alice Pfeiffer, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024
This type of training is known as isometric, or static, exercise, according to the Mayo Clinic.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024
Noun
Differential Privacy Think of this as adding a touch of static to a radio transmission to mask the original message.
—Moran Zavdi, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
This moving sound was embedded in bursts of stationary background noise resembling radio static that were randomly positioned in space and time.
—Ione Fine, The Conversation, 18 Dec. 2023
A certain kind of psychotherapist would tell you that any photo is an act of acquisition—the photographer is trying to possess, to capture, to make static—and that the shutter-happy mom embodies the archetype of the Oedipal Mother, who is trying to devour her own children.
—Meghan O'Gieblyn, WIRED, 25 Mar. 2024
There are three basic types of stretching: static, like a runner lifting their leg and holding it behind them; dynamic, like the same runner actively swinging their leg through its full range of motion; and pre-contraction stretching, which involves both contracting and stretching a muscle.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2024
Targets range from either static or those attached to robotic dummies or drones.
—Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2024
Hair Repair Remedies Gift Set Tatcha Japanese Indigo Cleanse + Nourish Fragrance-Free Skincare Duo
Ulta
Ulta is offering a ton of hair care deals on shampoos, conditioners, and popular silk pillowcases to prevent hair breakage and static.
—Jake Smith, Glamour, 24 Jan. 2024
Upon plugging it in, nothing but static came from the amp connected to Gay’s Squier Stratocaster.
—Spin Contributor, SPIN, 28 Feb. 2024
Our skin and hair felt more hydrated after just a few uses, and the static in our clothes disappeared.
—Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'static.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near static
Cite this Entry
“Static.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/static. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
static
1 of 2 adjective
stat·ic
ˈstat-ik 
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
1
: characterized by a lack of movement or change
a static condition
2
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