: the existing state of affairs
seeks to preserve the status quo
Examples of status quo in a Sentence
He is content with the status quo and does not like change.
civic leaders who are afraid to do anything that might change the town's status quo
Recent Examples on the Web
After several episodes of uncontrollably flashing through numerous disparate time periods in the island's mysterious history, several of the survivors finally settled into a new status quo... as members of the DHARMA Initiative in the 1970s.
—
Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 20 Sep. 2024
Leaving the insolvent status quo in place is bad, but adding tens of trillions to it with new government programs is even worse.
—The Editors, National Review, 26 July 2024
Fontes said Arizona should maintain status quo until after the November election, allowing those voters to receive a full ballot.
—Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2024
Where many Hollywood stars follow trends and adhere to the glitzy status quo, Sevigny delightfully strays from the pack, choosing distinctive looks that are modern, nontraditional, and just downright cool.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for status quo 
Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 20 Sep. 2024
Leaving the insolvent status quo in place is bad, but adding tens of trillions to it with new government programs is even worse.
—The Editors, National Review, 26 July 2024
Fontes said Arizona should maintain status quo until after the November election, allowing those voters to receive a full ballot.
—Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2024
Where many Hollywood stars follow trends and adhere to the glitzy status quo, Sevigny delightfully strays from the pack, choosing distinctive looks that are modern, nontraditional, and just downright cool.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for status quo
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'status quo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Status quo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/status%20quo. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
status quo
noun
: the existing state of affairs
specifically
: the last actual and uncontested state of affairs that preceded a controversy and that is to be preserved by preliminary injunction compare status quo ante
Etymology
Latin, state in which
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