standpat

1 of 2

adjective

stand·​pat ˈstan(d)-ˈpat How to pronounce standpat (audio)
: stubbornly conservative : resisting or opposing change

stand pat

2 of 2

verb

stood pat; standing pat; stands pat

intransitive verb

1
: to play one's hand as dealt in draw poker without drawing
2
: to oppose or resist change
standpatter noun
standpattism noun

Did you know?

If you stand pat in draw poker you're betting on the cards in your hand being better than any you're likely to draw. It didn't take long for stand pat to move from the poker table, where it first appeared in the late 1800s, to the realm of politics; by the early 20th century, to stand pat was to oppose any change in U.S. tariff policy. The term continues to be used mainly in U.S. English, where it's applied to everything from a coach's decision not to change out players during a game to a homeowner's decision not to refinance. The nouns standpatter ("one who resists or opposes change") and standpattism ("resistance to change" or "reluctance to take positive action") are also used, although generally only in political contexts.

Examples of standpat in a Sentence

Adjective the standpat chefs were having none of this low-calorie stuff that the food police were pushing
Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
The organization apparently decided that removing Hyde now was better than standing pat through the summer. Noah Trister, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025 Perhaps that was a contributing factor in the Fed’s decision on May 7th to stand pat on rates. Robert Barone, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025 Some mock drafts had the defender going in the top-10, yet the Ravens got to stand pat and select Starks at the bottom of the first round. Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025 That’s why teams that stood pat last year, found free agents too expensive, or refused to allow payroll to be subject to a luxury tax may have a different outlook this fall. Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for standpat

Word History

Etymology

Verb

pat entry 4

First Known Use

Adjective

1893, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of standpat was in 1865

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Standpat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standpat. Accessed 30 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

stand pat

verb
1
: to play one's hand as dealt in draw poker without drawing
2
: to oppose or resist change
standpatter noun
standpattism noun
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