What does "status" mean?
A person’s condition, position or standing relative to that of others.
Status
/ˈstæt.əs/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A person’s condition, position or standing relative to that of others.
- Grammar: status is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: condition, position, affected state, angle.
- Useful contrasts: disrepute, illegal status, low standing.
- Usage evidence: The goal of education is not wealth or status, but personal development.
How to use "status"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "status" 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 "status" 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 "status" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "status" 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 "status" is acting as noun 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 "condition" 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 "status", 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 A person’s condition, position or standing relative to that of others. countable, uncountable
"Superstition is highly correlated with economic status."
- 2 a state at a particular time wordnet
- 3 Prestige or high standing. countable, uncountable
"The king has status in his kingdom, and the pauper has status within his immediate group of peers."
- 4 the relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society wordnet
- 5 A situation or state of affairs. countable, uncountable
"What's the status of the investigation?"
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 The legal condition of a person or thing. countable, uncountable
- 7 The legal condition of a person or thing.; The state (of a Canadian First Nations person) of being registered under the Indian Act. Canada, countable, uncountable, usually
"He is a status Indian."
- 8 A function of some instant messaging applications, whereby a user may post a message that appears automatically to other users, if they attempt to make contact. countable, uncountable
"I'm just about to update my status to "busy"."
- 9 Short for status epilepticus or status asthmaticus. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, uncountable
Antonyms
Example
"The goal of education is not wealth or status, but personal development."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "status"?
Common synonyms include: condition, position, affected state, angle, base, bearings.
How do you use "status" in a sentence?
The goal of education is not wealth or status, but personal development.
How do you pronounce "status"?
Pronounced /ˈstæt.əs/.
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Latin status. A doublet of state and estate.