: 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
Ali FrancisIn much of the world, people are dissatisfied with the status quo and eager to see changes for the better.—The Christian Science Monitor
The Christian Science MonitorExamples 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
Obviously, if the strait were to remain closed and this wartime status quo persisted into the summer, even greater economic pain would be felt across the planet.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
So that movement against Lebanon’s political status quo had quite a bit of momentum, but it was derailed.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Mahan also picked up the support this week of Majority Democrats — a group formed last year that brands itself as the next-generation of leaders who are willing to break with the party status quo.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
Mamdani’s Wednesday announcement effectively restores the pre-Adams status quo, treating low-level traffic offenses committed by cyclists no different under the law than those committed by drivers.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for status quo
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
So that movement against Lebanon’s political status quo had quite a bit of momentum, but it was derailed.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Mahan also picked up the support this week of Majority Democrats — a group formed last year that brands itself as the next-generation of leaders who are willing to break with the party status quo.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
Mamdani’s Wednesday announcement effectively restores the pre-Adams status quo, treating low-level traffic offenses committed by cyclists no different under the law than those committed by drivers.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for status quo
Cite this Entry
“Status quo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/status%20quo. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
status quo
noun
: 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
