plural statuses
often attributive
1
a
: position or rank when compared to others in a society, organization, group, etc.
the book's best-seller status
efforts to maintain the city's status as a major tourist attraction
socioeconomic status
Archaeology has high status because it is considered a hard science relative to other branches of social studies.—
Mark A. Blumler
Mark A. Blumler… became successful at a time when chefs in America began to be given celebrity status …—Michael Roberts
Michael Roberts
b
: relative rank in a hierarchy of prestige
especially
: high prestige
married a person of status and wealth
This job brings with it a measure of status.
2
: the official situation of a person or thing according to the law
immigration status
… senior IRS officials … ruled that the project was not entitled to tax-exempt status …—David Burnham
David Burnham… fighting an uphill battle to gain refugee status in Canada.—Daniel Eisenberg
Daniel Eisenberg3
: the current state or condition of someone or something with respect to circumstances
the status of the negotiations/project
employment/relationship status
The manager asked for a status report.
… always check with your airline about the status of your flight …—Jessica Puckett
Jessica PuckettExamples of status in a Sentence
They want to maintain the city's status as a major tourist attraction.
He wants to improve his status in the community.
people of different social and economic statuses
She married a man of status and wealth.
This job brings with it a measure of status.
They sought asylum and were given refugee status by the government.
They are still considered refugees. Their statuses have not changed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mariano’s office released a statement Wednesday updating the status of the longtime Democratic state lawmaker, who has been absent from the State House while recovering at home.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 15 Jan. 2026
In the late spring, a University of Utah college student was arrested after a Mesa County sheriff’s deputy tipped off ICE officers to her location and immigration status.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Much of the information about his status as a suspect was not publicly known until his son Steve, a former LAPD detective and private investigator, began looking into his father’s involvement in the murder.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
The Air Series reached top-new-release status on Amazon and built a base of long-term users who validated its design choices.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for status
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 15 Jan. 2026
In the late spring, a University of Utah college student was arrested after a Mesa County sheriff’s deputy tipped off ICE officers to her location and immigration status.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Much of the information about his status as a suspect was not publicly known until his son Steve, a former LAPD detective and private investigator, began looking into his father’s involvement in the murder.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
The Air Series reached top-new-release status on Amazon and built a base of long-term users who validated its design choices.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for status
Cite this Entry
“Status.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/status. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
Legal Definition
status
noun
sta·tus
ˈstā-təs, ˈsta- 
1
a
: the condition of a person or a thing in the eyes of the law
b
: position or rank in relation to others
2
: the current state of affairs
Etymology
Latin, mode or condition of being, from stare to stand
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