status quo

noun
UK: /ˌsteɪ.təs ˈkwəʊ/
US: /ˌsteɪ.təs ˈkwoʊ/

  1. The existing state of affairs; the way things are now.

    1. They want to keep the status quo.
    2. The company president prefers the status quo because it benefits him directly.

  2. The current situation, especially in relation to power or social issues.

    1. Let's not change the status quo.
    2. Many people are resistant to changes that challenge the current status quo.

Synonyms

norm establishment

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "status quo" in English means: The existing state of affairs; the way things are now., The current situation, especially in relation to power or social issues..

The phonetic transcription of "status quo" is /ˌsteɪ.təs ˈkwəʊ/ in British English and /ˌsteɪ.təs ˈkwoʊ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "status quo": norm, establishment.

Example usage of "status quo": "They want to keep the status quo.". More examples on the page.