status quo

American  

[kwoh] / kwoʊ /

noun

1. the existing state or condition.

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status quo British  

/ kwəʊ /

noun

1. the existing state of affairs

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status quo Cultural  

1. The existing order of things; present customs, practices, and power relations: “People with money are often content with the status quo.” From Latin, meaning “the state in which.”

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status quo Idioms  

1. The existing condition or state of affairs, as in We don't want to admit more singers to the chorus; we like the status quo. This term, Latin for “state in which,” has been used in English since the early 1800s.

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Etymology

Origin of status quo

First recorded in 1825–35, status quo is from Latin status quō literally, “state in which”

Example Sentences

The policy is intended to preserve the fragile status quo.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

"The prime minister in his reset speech said 'a return to the status quo would not be enough for people'," he said.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

Critics may argue that the federal government should keep all recoveries, but the status quo isn’t a system where the federal government keeps the proceeds.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Which, if I’m not mistaken, is precisely the status quo.

From Salon • May 17, 2026

He was the Galilei Galileo of music, challenging the status quo.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• state of affairs
• status