What does status mean?
Status is a noun meaning the state, condition, position, or standing of a person, thing, or situation. It is especially common when describing an official or formal classification, such as someone's legal or marital status, and when reporting the progress of a process or project. Status can also indicate relative social rank or prestige, as in the expression 'social status.' In modern administrative and technical contexts, it often functions as a label for the current condition of a request, account, system, or application. The word comes through French from Latin, where it originally referred to a person's standing or position. Although it can sometimes suggest concern about rank or formal recognition, its everyday uses are largely neutral and practical. Overall, status is useful whenever the precise condition or standing of something needs to be identified.
The condition, position, or standing of a person, thing, or situation; an official classification or social rank.
"The patient's status improved steadily after treatment."
Common in legal, administrative, technical, and social contexts.
To confer or recognize a particular status or rank on someone.
"The committee statused the proposal as a priority project."
Rare and mainly used in technical, organizational, or bureaucratic contexts.
The plural is statuses, with the final syllable pronounced /ɪz/ when followed by a vowel sound.
"The employees' statuses changed when the company moved offices."
From the Latin for 'a standing,' status has always described where something stands—and still does.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does status come from?
The word entered English through French, which borrowed it from Latin status, meaning 'a standing' or 'position.' The Latin noun derives from the verb stare, 'to stand,' in the sense of being placed or appearing in a particular position. Its modern sense as a person's official or social position developed from this older idea of standing. Related English words such as state, statue, and statute share the same Latin root through different branches of its development.
How status is actually used
In general use, status can refer to a practical condition, an official category, or social standing. In computing and project management, it often describes the current state of a system, task, or request. The expression 'status symbol' may refer to a marker or emblem indicating rank.
Easily confused with status
State often means a particular condition or stage, while status more often emphasizes an official, social, or overall standing.