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

On their own, these results would indicate a climate in which voters seem largely hesitant to change the tax status quo in one way or another. — Paxton Honerkamp, CNBC, 21 July 2026

Ocasio-Cortez never named Stevens, but implicitly criticized her as a status quo candidate. — Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 19 July 2026

None of this requires defending a status quo that overprescribes, or dismissing legitimate science about metabolism and environment. — Sunny Patel, STAT, 17 July 2026

Those who claim the legal status quo for crypto is just fine have not listened to what businesses large and small are actually saying. — Patrick McHenry, Fortune, 16 July 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