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

Special teams status quo Morris is not planning on replacing special teams coordinator Marquice Williams, the head coach said Monday. —Josh Kendall, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025

Canon hits the nail on the head with the follow-up, squeezing more pixels into the sensor and taking a significant step forward for video with the addition of open gate capture and internal Raw recording, while maintaining the class-leading 40fps focus system and its sublime ergonomics status quo. —PC Magazine, 1 Dec. 2025

However, continuity in leadership is not to be confused with an acceptance that status quo is good enough. —Miami Herald, 20 Nov. 2025

Disadvantaged, too, will be proponents of the traditional political status quo in Yerevan. —Ilan Berman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025

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