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

See Examples For:

status quo

Hilton is right that the status quo isn’t working.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Beijing has helped too, said Lankov, noting China's preference to keep the status quo of the Kim dynasty by opposing potential instability from defectors or their supporters.

From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026

“This is a better strategy than the status quo, in terms of our enrollment,” said Hayes, the Coe president.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

He said it would be "much simpler and more effective" to maintain the status quo but allow local authorities to "merge if they wished" and to collaborate through city region and local growth deals.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 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