adjective
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of a settled, sedate, and steady character
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rare permanent
Related Words
Staid, sedate, settled indicate a sober and composed type of conduct. Staid indicates an ingrained seriousness and propriety that shows itself in complete decorum; a colorless kind of correctness is indicated: a staid and uninteresting family. Sedate applies to one who is noticeably quiet, composed, and sober in conduct: a sedate and dignified young man. One who is settled has become fixed, especially in a sober or determined way, in manner, judgments, or mode of life: He is young to be so settled in his ways.
Other Word Forms
- staidly adverb
- staidness noun
- unstaid adjective
- unstaidly adverb
- unstaidness noun
Etymology
Origin of staid
First recorded in 1535–45 for adjective use
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The commodity price boom has also helped the staid materials sector, home to companies like Freeport-McMoRan and Newmont Corp,. post a year to date advance of 11.4%.
From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026
Fashion historian Dr Helen Walter says Westwood's "punk" approach to tartan transformed it from being something associated with staid British cultural norms and gave it a rebellious streak.
From BBC • Jan. 31, 2026
The Journal arrived exclusively in print, in staid black and white.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 7, 2025
In an act of defiance seldom seen within the staid and often formulaic halls of bureaucracy, the public shut down the meeting.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2025
Her appearance always acted as a damper to the curiosity raised by her oral oddities: hard-featured and staid, she had no point to which interest could attach.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
