# status

/ˈstætəs/ (US) · /stˈeɪtəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/status
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. social standing

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- Doctors often have a high social status in many cultures.
- The researchers examined how changes in income affected the social status of immigrant families within their local communities.

### 2. prestige

noun · CEFR B2

high importance or respect that people give you.

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

- For some people, driving an expensive car is all about status.
- The acquisition of the historic estate was seen as a move to consolidate his status among the city's elite.

### 3. current state

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

the situation or progress of something at a particular time.

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

- What is the status of our application for the new apartment?
- The project manager requested a weekly report to monitor the status of the software development phase.

### 4. legal condition

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal · Technical

your official situation according to the law.

For teachers: the legal character or condition of a person or entity.

- He is currently waiting for the government to decide on his refugee status.
- The court must first determine the legal status of the subsidiary before the parent company can be held liable for the debt.

### 5. digital update

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

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

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

- She changed her status to 'on vacation' before she left for the airport.
- He posted a cryptic status on his profile, leaving his followers to wonder if he was hinting at a new job offer.

### 6. medical emergency

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

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

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

## Examples

- The doctor updated me on the patient's status.
- After years of hard work, she finally achieved the high social status she had always wanted.
- The legal status of the disputed territory remains unresolved, as neither nation is willing to concede its historical claim during the current round of diplomatic negotiations.

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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.