What does "status" mean?

1. (social standing) your position or rank in a group or in society compared to other people. 2. (prestige) high importance or respect that people give you. 3. (current state) the situation or progress of something at a particular time. 4. (legal condition) your official situation according to the law. 5. (digital update) a short message or photo you share on social media to tell friends what you are doing. 6. (medical emergency) a serious medical condition where a physical problem, like a seizure, does not stop.

How do you use "status"?

Often used as a shorthand for 'status epilepticus' or 'status asthmaticus' in clinical settings.

status

US //ˈstætəs// UK //stˈeɪtəs// sta·tus

1 social standing (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

your position or rank in a group or in society compared to other people.

the relative social, professional, or official standing of a person or group.

Example

Doctors often have a high social status in many cultures.

Example

The researchers examined how changes in income affected the social status of immigrant families within their local communities.
2 prestige (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

high importance or respect that people give you.

high standing, prestige, or importance in the eyes of others.

Example

For some people, driving an expensive car is all about status.

Example

The acquisition of the historic estate was seen as a move to consolidate his status among the city's elite.
- insignificance

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3 current state (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

the situation or progress of something at a particular time.

the current state of affairs or the progress of a specific process or project.

Example

What is the status of our application for the new apartment?

Example

The project manager requested a weekly report to monitor the status of the software development phase.
4 legal condition (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Technical Law

your official situation according to the law.

the legal character or condition of a person or entity.

Example

He is currently waiting for the government to decide on his refugee status.

Example

The court must first determine the legal status of the subsidiary before the parent company can be held liable for the debt.
- standing
- capacity
5 digital update (n.)
B1 Intermediate Informal Computing

a short message or photo you share on social media to tell friends what you are doing.

a user-defined message on a social media platform or messaging app indicating current activity or mood.

Example

She changed her status to 'on vacation' before she left for the airport.

Example

He posted a cryptic status on his profile, leaving his followers to wonder if he was hinting at a new job offer.
- update
- post
6 medical emergency (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Medicine

a serious medical condition where a physical problem, like a seizure, does not stop.

a state of prolonged or repetitive medical symptoms, such as seizures or asthma attacks, that requires immediate intervention.

Example

The patient was in status and needed medicine right away to stop the shaking.

Example

The emergency team worked quickly to stabilize the patient, who had progressed into status epilepticus after failing to respond to initial treatment.

Usage

Often used as a shorthand for 'status epilepticus' or 'status asthmaticus' in clinical settings.

Origin

A learned borrowing from Latin status. A doublet of state and estate.