statue
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of statue
1300–50; Middle English < Middle French < Latin statua, noun derivative of statuere to set up, itself derivative of status ( see status)
Explanation
To stand as still as a statue is to stand absolutely still, a statue being a sculpture, after all. A statue is a specific kind of sculpture, one that clearly represents a person, an animal, or other living creature. There's no question that the first thing most people think of when they hear the word statue is the Statue of Liberty. The woman's name is Liberty and there she is, a statue. Any sculpture that represents a person (Liberty, George Washington, Gandhi, or the Mad Hatter) is called a statue. In New York's Central Park, there is a much beloved statue of a dog named Balto, a heroic husky from Alaska.
Vocabulary lists containing statue
Academy Awards, List 1
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"The Secret Water"
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Commonly Confused Words, List 3
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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.
See Examples For:
Another resident in the township said the statue had been "totally fine, with good proportions".
From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026
In late June, authorities also removed a statue from a park in Mudon, in southern Mon state, said a resident speaking anonymously.
From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026
DR Congo superfan Michel Kuka Mboladinga, better known as Lumumba Vea or the "living statue", became one of the most recognisable spectators early on in the tournament.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
On Tuesday, four people died when more than 1 million fans gathered near Ángel de la Independencia statue to celebrate Mexico’s win.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026
Jason ran to the cage, but Brigit remained stunned, stuck and still as a statue.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
Before leaving the village for the modern world, Yuru awakens Left and Right, two statues that have marked the entrance to the village.
From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026
After local media reported the removal of several statues, government spokeswoman Khaing Khaing Soe said earlier this month that only those with "incorrect proportions and shapes are being systematically reviewed and addressed".
From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026
As I stared into empty niches that once contained massive wooden statues of saints, I meditated on how fragile our democracy is.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 4, 2026
The Tartan Army's coronation of statues in Boston baffled locals and global audiences alike, however the practice has divided opinion at home.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
“I wanted to read and play on the statues, but Lily said we had to meet you. And I came without a fuss.”
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
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.
