static

1 of 3

adjective

stat·​ic ˈsta-tik 

1

: exerting force by reason of weight alone without motion

2

: of or relating to bodies at rest or forces in equilibrium

3

: showing little change

a static population

4

a

: characterized by a lack of movement, animation, or progression

b

: producing an effect of repose or quiescence

a static design

5

a

: standing or fixed in one place : stationary

b

of water : stored in a tank but not under pressure

6

: of, relating to, or producing stationary charges of electricity : electrostatic

7

: of, relating to, or caused by radio static

statical

ˈsta-ti-kəl 

adjective

statically

ˈsta-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

static

2 of 3

noun

1

: noise produced in a radio or television receiver by atmospheric or various natural or man-made electrical disturbances

also : the electrical disturbances producing this noise

2

: heated opposition or criticism

staticky

ˈsta-ti-kē 

adjective

-static

3 of 3

adjective combining form

1

: of or relating to a position or state

orthostatic

2

: inhibiting the growth of

fungistatic

Synonyms

Adjective

• immobile
• nonmoving
• standing
• stationary

Examples of static in a Sentence

Adjective

the static installation of the statue in that niche means that no one will ever see its back, which is also of interest

Noun

There was so much static on the radio we couldn't hear the broadcast.

He was getting a lot of static about his decision.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Airfields -- like Engels strategic bomber air base -- oil refineries, ports and the like are static and their locations known to Ukrainian military planners. —David Brennan, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2025

With constant changes in workforce demands, evolving technologies and economic shifts, the industry has never been static. —Paul Deluca, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

Noun

As part of the city’s outdoor OZ Art NWA program, the celebrated Yinka Shonibare’s fiberglass and steel Wind Sculpture (SG) VIII (2022) is a vibrant piece of African cloth that, while in fact static, seems to be caught in the wind. —John Oseid, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025

The diffusion takes the noisy version and tries to remove the static and get back to the original version. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

New Latin staticus, from Greek statikos causing to stand, skilled in weighing, from histanai to cause to stand, weigh — more at stand

Noun

static electricity

Adjective combining form

New Latin -staticus, from staticus

First Known Use

Adjective

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1928, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing static

• pitot-static tube
• static cling
• static electricity
• static line
• static tube

Rhymes for static

• attic
• batak
• mattock
• static
• achromatic
• acrobatic
• adriatic
• aliphatic
• antistatic
• aromatic
• adiabatic
• aristocratic

Kids Definition

static

1 of 2 adjective

stat·​ic ˈstat-ik 

1

: of or relating to bodies at rest or forces that are balanced

static friction

2

: showing little change

a static population

3

: marked by a lack of movement, liveliness, or progress

4

: of, relating to, or producing stationary charges of electricity (as those produced by friction)

static

2 of 2 noun

: noise produced in a radio or television receiver by atmospheric or electrical disturbances

Medical Definition

static

adjective

stat·​ic ˈstat-ik 

1

: characterized by a lack of movement or change

a static condition

2

: electrostatic

statically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb