What does "static" mean?
Interference on a broadcast signal caused by atmospheric disturbances; heard as crackles on radio, or seen as random specks on television.
Static
/ˈstæt.ɪk/ adj, noun, slang
adj, noun, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Interference on a broadcast signal caused by atmospheric disturbances; heard as crackles on radio, or seen as random specks on television.
- Grammar: static is listed as adj, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: abeyant, abiding, adynamic, apathetic.
- Useful contrasts: directional, kinetic, nonstatic.
- Usage evidence: The population of this town has been static for the last ten years.
How to use "static"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "static" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "static" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "static" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "static" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "static" is acting as adj, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abeyant" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "static", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Interference on a broadcast signal caused by atmospheric disturbances; heard as crackles on radio, or seen as random specks on television. uncountable
"Near-synonyms: shash, snow"
- 2 angry criticism wordnet
- 3 Interference or obstruction from people. broadly, figuratively, uncountable
"I was getting a lot of static from the bean counters whenever I tried to proceed."
- 4 a crackling or hissing noise caused by electrical interference wordnet
- 5 Verbal abuse. US, slang, uncountable
"Near-synonym: flak"
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 Static electricity. uncountable
"This stupid carpet is always giving me a shock from the static."
- 7 A static caravan. countable
- 8 A static variable. countable
"Some compilers will allow statics to be inlined, but then incorrectly create multiple instances of the inlined variable at run-time."
Adjective
- 1 Unchanging; that cannot or does not change. not-comparable
"It's important to know that the Earth's crust is in no manner a stable and static place."
- 2 Making no progress; stalled, without movement or advancement. not-comparable
- 3 Immobile; fixed in place; having no motion. not-comparable
"England were ponderous with ball in hand, their runners static when taking the ball and their lines obvious, while their front row struggled badly in the scrum."
- 4 Computed, created, or allocated before the program starts running, as opposed to at runtime. not-comparable
"A further advantage of static type checking is of course computational efficiency, since run time checks are no longer necessary."
- 5 Defined for the class itself, as opposed to instances of it; thus shared between all instances and accessible even without an instance. not-comparable
Adjective
- 1 showing little if any change wordnet
- 2 not in physical motion wordnet
- 3 concerned with or producing or caused by static electricity wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The population of this town has been static for the last ten years."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "static"?
Common synonyms include: abeyant, abiding, adynamic, apathetic, at a standstill, at anchor.
How do you use "static" in a sentence?
The population of this town has been static for the last ten years.
How do you pronounce "static"?
Pronounced /ˈstæt.ɪk/.
Etymology
Modern Latin staticus, from Ancient Greek στατικός (statikós), from ἵστημι (hístēmi, “to make stand”). By surface analysis, stasis + -tic.