: 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
Uncertain economic trends and the bleak status quo of the industry pose a new challenge for enterprises and brands focusing on online business.
—
Li Jun, WWD, 24 June 2024
Way back in 2016 — before its chaotically downbeat social surrealism became the real world's status quo — the FX comedy Atlanta began with a more or less straightforward concept.
—EW.com, 10 June 2024
Or are fans just enabling a disturbing status quo within the genre?
Drake and Lamar calling out each other’s misogyny isn’t noble.
—Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 8 May 2024
The relative status quo means that Ursula von der Leyen, the current president of the European Commission, will likely be reelected by the new EU Parliament to another term.
—Lenora Chu, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for status quo 
Li Jun, WWD, 24 June 2024
Way back in 2016 — before its chaotically downbeat social surrealism became the real world's status quo — the FX comedy Atlanta began with a more or less straightforward concept.
—EW.com, 10 June 2024
Or are fans just enabling a disturbing status quo within the genre?
Drake and Lamar calling out each other’s misogyny isn’t noble.
—Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 8 May 2024
The relative status quo means that Ursula von der Leyen, the current president of the European Commission, will likely be reelected by the new EU Parliament to another term.
—Lenora Chu, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 June 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 6 Jul. 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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