# stature

/ˈstætʃɝ/ (US) · /stˈætʃɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stature
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. social standing

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the level of respect or importance that someone has because of their success or high quality.

For teachers: the level of respect, reputation, or importance acquired through achievement or development.

- The professor is a woman of great international stature in the field of physics.
- Despite the initial controversy, the artist's stature grew steadily until she was considered the most influential painter of her generation.

Usage: Often used with adjectives like 'great', 'growing', or 'international'.

### 2. physical height

noun · CEFR B2

a person's natural height when they are standing up.

For teachers: the natural height of a human or animal body in an upright position.

- Although he was small in stature, he was a very powerful athlete.
- The scouts looked for players of imposing stature, believing that height would provide a significant advantage on the basketball court.

Usage: Frequently appears in the phrase 'small in stature' or 'short in stature'.

## Examples

- The professor is a woman of great academic stature.
- Despite his small physical stature, he was a giant in the world of international diplomacy.
- The museum's global stature grew significantly after it acquired the rare collection of Renaissance masterpieces.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.