status

noun

sta·​tus ˈstā-təs  ˈsta- 

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

… became successful at a time when chefs in America began to be given celebrity status …

—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

… fighting an uphill battle to gain refugee status in Canada.

—Daniel Eisenberg

3

: 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

Synonyms of status

• situation
• deal
• story

Examples 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

Both phones had been reset to their factory status. —Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026

One official in the Office of Intelligence and Analysis described an operation functioning at roughly 80% capacity, with employees rotating in and out of furlough status week to week — disrupting even routine information-sharing and leaving critical gaps in coordination. —Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026

Others expressed concerns that MCI could widely expose sensitive data, including user passwords, details about new product development, and personal information about workers’ immigration status, health or family members. —Lora Kolodny,jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026

David and Marian converted the farm to full organic status in 1998 and rent land on the Sussex Wildlife Trust’s Pevensey Marshes Nature Reserve. —Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin — more at state

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing status

• maintain the status quo
• marital status
• status offender
• status quo
• status quo ante
• status symbol
• the status quo
• unc status

Rhymes for status

• flatus
• gratis
• lattice
• rattus
• satis
• stratus
• apparatus
• superlattice
• beatus

Kids Definition

status

noun

sta·​tus ˈstāt-əs  ˈstat- 

1

: position or rank in relation to others : standing

2

: state or condition with respect to circumstances : situation

Medical Definition

status

noun

sta·​tus ˈstāt-əs  ˈstat- 

plural statuses

: a particular state or condition

a patient's neurological status

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