still life

noun

plural still lifes

1

: a picture consisting predominantly of inanimate objects

2

: the category of graphic arts concerned with inanimate subject matter

Examples of still life in a Sentence

an exhibit of still lifes

She prefers portraiture to still life.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tennis fanatics will get a kick out of this ashtray that will remind them there’s still life to live even when Wimbledon or the US Open isn’t in session. —Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 19 Sep. 2025

The video showcased a 17-year-old student using GR-3 as a still life model for a painting. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025

Some of the artworks from the collection include stunning still lifes, landscape sketches, and canvas prints of fall nature scenes. 12x16-Inch Horizontal Carafe Still Life Art This simple-yet-pretty still life features three common kitchen objects: a carafe, glass, and vase. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025

This is like making a still life painting but with things. —Norma Meyer, Oc Register, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1695, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for still life

• alewife
• birdlife
• folklife
• housewife
• jackknife
• loosestrife
• midlife
• midwife
• nightlife
• penknife
• wildlife
• afterlife

Kids Definition

still life

noun

plural still lifes

: a picture of an arrangement of objects