static

American  

[stat-ik] / ˈstæt ɪk /

adjective

1. pertaining to or characterized by a fixed or stationary condition.

2. showing little or no change.

   a static concept; a static relationship.

3. lacking movement, development, or vitality.

   The novel was marred by static characterizations, especially in its central figures.

4. Sociology. referring to a condition of social life bound by tradition.

5. Electricity. pertaining to or noting static electricity.

6. noting or pertaining to atmospheric electricity interfering with radar, radio, the sending and receiving of wireless messages, etc.

7. Physics. acting by mere weight without producing motion.

   static pressure.

8. Economics. pertaining to fixed relations, or different combinations of fixed quantities.

   static population.

9. Computers. (of data storage, processing, or programming) unaffected by the passage of time or the presence or absence of power.

   A static website contains web pages with fixed content that does not change as the user interacts with it.

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noun

1. Electricity.

   1. static or atmospheric electricity.

   2. interference due to such electricity.

2. Informal. difficulty; trouble.

   Will your dad give you any static on using the car?

static British  

/ ˈstætɪk /

adjective

1. not active or moving; stationary

2. (of a weight, force, or pressure) acting but causing no movement

3. of or concerned with forces that do not produce movement Compare dynamic

4. relating to or causing stationary electric charges; electrostatic

5. of or relating to interference in the reception of radio or television transmissions

6. of or concerned with statics

7. sociol characteristic of or relating to a society that has reached a state of equilibrium so that no changes are taking place

8. computing (of a memory) not needing its contents refreshed periodically Compare dynamic

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noun

1. random hissing or crackling or a speckled picture caused by the interference of electrical disturbances in the reception of radio or television transmissions

2. electric sparks or crackling produced by friction

static Scientific  

/ stăt′ĭk /

1. Having no motion; being at rest.

2. Compare dynamic

3. Relating to or producing static electricity.

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1. Distortion or interruption of a broadcast signal, such as crackling or noise in a receiver or specks on a television screen, often produced when background electromagnetic radiation in the atmosphere disturbs signal reception or when there are loose connections in the transmission or reception circuits.

Other Word Forms

• nonstatic adjective
• statically adverb
• unstatic adjective
• unstatical adjective
• unstatically adverb

Etymology

Origin of static

First recorded in 1560–70; from New Latin staticus, from Greek statikós, equivalent to sta- (stem of histánai “to make, stand” ) + -tikos adjective suffix; stand, -tic

Explanation

Static means not moving or changing––it's often used to describe abstract ideas that can't be seen. "The troops were moving all over the country, engaged in skirmishes, but the army's overall position remained static." Static is easier to remember if you think of the sta- in "standing still" and stationary. Remember what happens when you rub a balloon against your head? That's producing a stationary electric charge, otherwise known as static electricity.

Example Sentences

Bone may seem like a static structure, but it is constantly being renewed.

From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026

And instead of merely defending a static business model model, ServiceNow is pushing into other markets, such as the massive customer relationship management and cybersecurity arenas.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Because that static I mentioned earlier—the low, persistent hum that had been building since the holidays—is finally gone.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

Nezza, Eddy, Tropa Magica, Vanita Leo and Hermanos Espinoza each brought their own distinct essence to the Texas stage, reminding audiences that Latin music is dynamic and never static.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

“Are you counting?” she asked, her voice scratchy with static.

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller

Related Words

• fixed
• immobile
• immovable
• passive
• stagnant
• stationary