status quo

American  

[kwoh] / kwoʊ /

noun

1. the existing state or condition.

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status quo British  

/ kwəʊ /

noun

1. the existing state of affairs

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status quo Cultural  

1. The existing order of things; present customs, practices, and power relations: “People with money are often content with the status quo.” From Latin, meaning “the state in which.”

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status quo Idioms  

1. The existing condition or state of affairs, as in We don't want to admit more singers to the chorus; we like the status quo. This term, Latin for “state in which,” has been used in English since the early 1800s.

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Etymology

Origin of status quo

First recorded in 1825–35, status quo is from Latin status quō literally, “state in which”

Example Sentences

Technology invariably requires workers to adapt, often with considerable disruption to the status quo.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

The summit and remarks, in his view, have done little to change the current status quo.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

Critics may argue that the federal government should keep all recoveries, but the status quo isn’t a system where the federal government keeps the proceeds.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Most also want to maintain the status quo - which means neither formally declaring independence nor unifying with China.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

The newscaster on the television reported on the changing times and the uprooting of the status quo.

From "Amal Unbound" by Aisha Saeed

Related Words

• state of affairs
• status