staff

[ staf, stahf ]

/ stæf, stɑf /

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noun, plural staffs for 1-5, 9; staves

[steyvz] /steɪvz/ or staffs for 6-8, 10, 11.

a group of persons, as employees, charged with carrying out the work of an establishment or executing some undertaking.

a group of assistants to a manager, superintendent, or executive.

a member of a staff.

Military.

a body of officers without command authority, appointed to assist a commanding officer.
the parts of any army concerned with administrative matters, planning, etc., rather than with actual participation in combat.

those members of an organization serving only in an auxiliary or advisory capacity on a given project.Compare line¹ (def. 38).

a stick, pole, or rod for aid in walking or climbing, for use as a weapon, etc.

a rod or wand serving as a symbol of office or authority, as a crozier, baton, truncheon, or mace.

a pole on which a flag is hung or displayed.

something that supports or sustains.

Also stave .Music. a set of horizontal lines, now five in number, with the corresponding four spaces between them, on which music is written.

Archaic. the shaft of a spear, lance, etc.

adjective

of or relating to a military or organizational staff: a staff officer; staff meetings.

(of a professional person) employed on the staff of a corporation, publication, institution, or the like rather than being self-employed or practicing privately: a staff writer; staff physicians at the hospital.

verb (used with object)

to provide with a staff of assistants or workers: She staffed her office with excellent secretaries.

to serve on the staff of.

to send to a staff for study or further work (often followed by out): The White House will staff out the recommendations before making a decision.

verb (used without object)

to hire employees, as for a new office or project (sometimes followed by up): Next month we'll begin staffing up for the reelection campaign.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of staff

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun staf(fe), stafte, Old English stæf, stæb; cognate with Dutch staf, German Stab, Old Norse stafr staff, Sanskrit root stabh- “support”

grammar notes for staff

See collective noun.

OTHER WORDS FROM staff

staffless, adjectiveun·staffed, adjectivewell-staffed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH staff

staff , staph

Other definitions for staff (2 of 2)

staff²

[ staf, stahf ]

/ stæf, stɑf /

noun

a composition of plaster and fibrous material used for a temporary finish and in ornamental work, as on exposition buildings.

Origin of staff

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; of obscure origin; perhaps from German Stoff stuff

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use staff in a sentence

Early this spring, the CBS News streaming show “60 in 60” had one of the first so-called coronavirus clusters in New York City when 16 members of the staff tested positive.
Despite precautions, CBS headquarters reports 15 coronavirus cases amid nationwide surge|Jeremy Barr|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
This is being communicated to Virginia Tech’s sports medicine staff as well.
Pennsylvania says all athletes must wear masks while playing. The Steelers say they’re exempt.|Matt Bonesteel|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
In the past two weeks, 23 Maryland players and seven staff members, including Coach Michael Locksley, have contracted the virus.
Maryland football is ‘committed to getting back,’ but timeline for return is unclear|Emily Giambalvo|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Noah Smith is a regular contributor to The Washington Post and staff journalist for Direct Relief, a nonprofit.
The enduring and ongoing legacy of Bjergsen|Noah Smith|November 20, 2020|Washington Post

The more attractive experience is open glass doors and tables parked just outside, facing the Washington Channel and warmed with tall heaters and nice staff — sometimes too nice.
At Moon Rabbit, chef Kevin Tien lures fans to the Wharf|Tom Sietsema|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Most female peshmerga fighters were tasked with staffing checkpoints and guarding bases alongside their male counterparts.
Embedding With the Women Who Are Kicking ISIS Ass|Susannah George|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Donson was not surprised that money earmarked for programs to benefit inmates actually pays for staffing and other costs.
Megabanks Have The Federal Prison System Locked Up|Center for Public Integrity|October 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The union said it had previously raised concerns about low staffing levels and inadequate inmate security levels.
How To Plan A Jailbreak|Seth Ferranti|September 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The result is a gap in staffing, funding, and overall support of local candidates.
Iowa Has a Phantom Democratic Presidential Candidates Problem|Ben Jacobs|July 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But rent ($12.7 million) and staffing ($16.4 million) more than ate up the operating profit.
The Cupcake Boom’s Sugar High Finally Crashes|Daniel Gross|July 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But such ships would require special staffing so that the existing units should not be depleted in order to provide staffs.
The Australian Army Medical Corps in Egypt|James W. Barrett
The centering of a staff in wax has been thoroughly described and in pivoting the proceeding is the same as in staffing.
A Treatise on Staff Making and Pivoting|Eugene E. Hall
Nor did I neglect to seek out the pair of blacks and enter into an agreement with them to assist in staffing my place.
Ruggles of Red Gap|Harry Leon Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for staff (1 of 2)

staff¹

/ (stɑːf) /

noun plural for senses 1,3,4 staffs or plural for senses 5-9 staffs or staves (steɪvz)

a group of people employed by a company, individual, etc, for executive, clerical, sales work, etc

(modifier) attached to or provided for the staff of an establishmenta staff doctor

the body of teachers or lecturers of an educational institution, as distinct from the students

the officers appointed to assist a commander, service, or central headquarters organization in establishing policy, plans, etc

a stick with some special use, such as a walking stick or an emblem of authority

something that sustains or supportsbread is the staff of life

a pole on which a flag is hung

mainly British a graduated rod used in surveying, esp for sighting to with a levelling instrumentUsual US name: rod

Also called: stave music

the system of horizontal lines grouped into sets of five (four in the case of plainsong) upon which music is written. The spaces between them are also used, being employed in conjunction with a clef in order to give a graphic indication of pitch
any set of five lines in this system together with its clefthe treble staff

verb

(tr) to provide with a staff

Word Origin for staff

Old English stæf; related to Old Frisian stef, Old Saxon staf, German Stab, Old Norse stafr, Gothic Stafs; see stave

British Dictionary definitions for staff (2 of 2)

staff²

/ (stɑːf) /

noun

US a mixture of plaster and hair used to cover the external surface of temporary structures and for decoration

Word Origin for staff

C19: of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

staff

Origin of staff

grammar notes for staff

OTHER WORDS FROM staff

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH staff

Other definitions for staff (2 of 2)

Origin of staff

Words related to staff

How to use staff in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for staff (1 of 2)

Word Origin for staff

British Dictionary definitions for staff (2 of 2)

Word Origin for staff