still life

noun

plural still lifes
1
: a picture consisting predominantly of inanimate objects
2
: the category of graphic arts concerned with inanimate subject matter

Examples of still life in a Sentence

an exhibit of still lifes She prefers portraiture to still life.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
In Office, there’s a microwave supporting a cup, a thermos, and a lemon — a wee still life. Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024 Inspired by Martin Johnson Heade’s Cattleya Orchid with Two Hummingbirds (ca. 1880s), which blurs the line between still life and landscape painting, Ramirez created several mixed-media paintings that focus on the legacies of colonialism, particularly through the lens of tourism. Damaly Gonzalez, ARTnews.com, 26 Sep. 2024 On the second floor of the show, Grief/Spring (2024), a 12-by-9-inch still life of daffodils in a vase, is the sole work in a gallery alcove, allowing for an intimate viewing moment. Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2024 The irreverent campaign pairs drawings by British artist David Shrigley, best known for his sly social commentary, with the surreal still lifes that Swiss photographer Raymond Meier shot in response to them. Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for still life 

Word History

First Known Use

1695, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of still life was in 1695

Dictionary Entries Near still life

Cite this Entry

“Still life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/still%20life. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

still life

noun
plural still lifes
: a picture of an arrangement of objects
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!