status

American  

[stey-tuhs, stat-uhs] / ˈsteɪ təs, ˈstæt əs /

noun

1. the position of an individual in relation to another or others, especially in regard to social or professional standing.

   Women in India have a lower status than men and therefore less control over money.

2. high social or professional standing; prestige.

   The Wilsons have status in the community because of their charitable work.

3. state or condition of affairs.

   Arbitration has failed to change the status of the disagreement.

4. Law. the standing of a person before the law.

   Those students can receive the same tax breaks as citizens, regardless of their status as immigrants.

5. Digital Technology. a short post on a social networking website or messaging application that gives information about the user’s present situation, activities, thoughts, etc..

   I changed my Facebook status from married to single.

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adjective

1. conferring or believed to confer elevated status.

   a status car; a status job.

status British  

/ ˈsteɪtəs /

noun

1. a social or professional position, condition, or standing to which varying degrees of responsibility, privilege, and esteem are attached

2. the relative position or standing of a person or thing

3. a high position or standing; prestige

   he has acquired a new status since he has been in that job

4. the legal standing or condition of a person

5. a state of affairs

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status Cultural  

1. The relative position of an individual within a group, or of a group within a society.

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Usage

Plural word for status The plural form of status is statuses (not stati). Even though status is derived from Latin, it isn’t pluralized by replacing the -us ending with -i, as is done in many other Latin-derived words ending in -us, such as cactus/cacti and fungus/fungi. Most words ending in -s, -ss, -ch, -sh, -x, and -o follow the conventional pluralization pattern of simply adding -es. However, several other words that end in -us are pluralized in the same way as status, including surplus/surpluses and census/censuses. Do you know: What is the plural of radius?

Related Words

See state.

Discover More

Though the term can refer to either high or low standing, it is often used only to imply a position of prestige.

Other Word Forms

• nonstatus adjective

Etymology

Origin of status

First recorded in 1665–75; from Latin: “the condition of standing, stature, status,” equivalent to sta- (variant stem of stāre “to stand”) + -tus suffix of verbal action; stand

Example Sentences

“It’s not like war — there is no ‘conscientious objector’ status in the tax code,” said Hannah Cole, a tax educator who helps self-employed artists.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

For decades, Saudi Arabia played an outsize role thanks to its vast oil production and its special status in Islam as home to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

The judge ordered the administration to reinstate the legal status and work authorization of those remaining.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

Dubois could also boost her status with a fight against American Alycia Baumgardner, a big name in the United States.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

On-screen, Catriona says: “Phillipe, I don’t care about my family’s status anymore. I don’t care if they think you’re wrong for me. They can keep my crown. All I want is to be with you!”

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day

Related Words

• condition
• dignity
• place
• position
• prestige
• prominence
• quality
• rating
• situation
• stature