status quo

noun

-ˈkwō 

: the existing state of affairs

seeks to preserve the status quo

The book became a guide for many restaurateurs fed up with the status quo.

—Ali Francis

In much of the world, people are dissatisfied with the status quo and eager to see changes for the better.

—The Christian Science Monitor

Synonyms of status quo

• normality

Examples of status quo in a Sentence

He is content with the status quo and does not like change.

civic leaders who are afraid to do anything that might change the town's status quo

Recent Examples on the Web

Flipping the script Progressive donors said they were motivated to give to candidates who would shake up the Democratic Party’s status quo. — Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026

Clandestine action begets retribution, which begets chaos — the only status quo Central Intelligence has ever known. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2026

Remarkably, Else concludes Frenchman Flat on a note of ambivalence about this unstable status quo. — Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2026

Edvinsson, Wings still status quo Status quo on the Simon Edvinsson front as of Monday. — Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, state in which

First Known Use

1719, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for status quo

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo

Kids Definition

status quo

noun

sta·​tus quo

ˌstāt-ə-ˈskwō, 

ˌstat-

: the way things are now

chose to keep the status quo rather than make changes

Legal Definition

status quo

noun

-ˈkwō 

: the existing state of affairs

specifically : the last actual and uncontested state of affairs that preceded a controversy and that is to be preserved by preliminary injunction compare status quo ante

Etymology

Latin, state in which