static

[stat-ik]

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.

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

/ 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

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

1. Having no motion; being at rest.

2. Compare dynamic

3. Relating to or producing static electricity.

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of static¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of static¹

C16: from New Latin staticus , from Greek statikos causing to stand, from histanai to stand, put on the scales

Example Sentences

"We often picture ancient landscapes as static," says Goodman.

Read more on Science Daily

More than 50 artists and groups come together for a three-week presentation that includes performances, static art, tours, talks and more to offer a detailed snapshot of the art form.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Economists across the city suggest its downhill from here, after the inflation rate for September remained static at 3.8%, failing to breach the expected 4% mark.

Read more on BBC

Another person, from Pitlochry, posted: "I live in a static caravan and experienced up and down movement, it was like a giant walking past our van."

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While for humans it's a brief jolt of annoyance, scientists are discovering that static electricity plays a major role in the survival and behavior of many small organisms.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

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