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
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.
Among the 1,300 works brought over for the exhibition, which was conceived in order to introduce American audiences to the modern art being made in Europe, was a roster of loans from 27 Rue de Fleurus, including Matisse’s Blue Nude and two Picasso still lifes. Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025 The minibar alone was a work of art—literally—hand-painted by Austrian artist Marie Hartig to resemble a still life and stocked with local treats, such as Bad Ischl pastilles and bottled cocktails from the Farthofer distillery. Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 4 Oct. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for still life

Word History

First Known Use

1695, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of still life was in 1695

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Cite this Entry

“Still life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/still%20life. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

still life

noun
plural still lifes
: a picture of an arrangement of objects
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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