adj
Common
static
STAT-ihk
Static (adj) means not moving or changing; staying the same over time. Example: “The picture stayed static on the screen, with no movement at all.”
adj
1
Not moving or changing; staying the same over time.
"The picture stayed static on the screen, with no movement at all."
"Prices in our town have been static for years."
"Sales figures remained static for the third quarter in a row."
noun
1
Crackling interference on a radio, television, or phone signal.
"There was so much static on the line that I could not hear you."
"Turn the dial slowly, or all you will get is static."
"The radio station kept cutting out into static during the storm."
"The World Series was on, but there was so much static that we could barely even follow the action."
How to use static
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot moving or changing — or the crackly noise of signal interference.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
static electricity
radio static
remain static
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Word forms
- Plural
- statics
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The picture stayed _____ on the screen, with no movement at all.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek statikos, "causing to stand," from the same root as stasis and stand.
Synonyms
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unchanging
motionless
stationary
fixed
immobile
interference
inactive
still
electrostatic
stable
atmospherics
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for static
somatic
aquatic
fanatic
hepatic
erratic
lunatic
aromatic
ecstatic
operatic
dramatic
climatic
emphatic
See all rhymes for static →
Frequently asked questions
What does “static” mean?
The word “static” means not moving or changing; staying the same over time. In plain terms, not moving or changing — or the crackly noise of signal interference.
How do you pronounce “static”?
“Static” is pronounced STAT-ihk (/ˈstæt.ɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “static” in a sentence?
Here is “static” used in a sentence: “Sales figures remained static for the third quarter in a row.”
What part of speech is “static”?
Depending on how it is used, “static” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “static” come from?
The word “static” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek statikos, "causing to stand," from the same root as stasis and stand.
Is “static” a common word?
“Static” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “static” have?
“Static” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not moving or changing; staying the same over time.
What is the difference between "static" and "stationary"?
"Stationary" means not moving physically: a stationary car. "Static" covers both not moving and not changing — prices, populations, and web pages can all be static even though they were never going to move anywhere. For describing a lack of change over time, "static" is the natural word.
What is the opposite of "static"?
The usual opposite is "dynamic" — moving, changing, or energetic. Depending on context, "changing," "variable," "moving," or "active" also work. In computing, a static web page shows everyone the same fixed content, while a dynamic page changes according to data or user input.
Why is static electricity called "static"?
Because the charge stays in one place instead of flowing as a current. "Static" means not moving or changing, so electricity that builds up on a surface — a balloon rubbed on a jumper, for example — is "static" until it jumps away as a spark or crackle.
What causes static on a radio or phone?
Static in this sense is the crackling interference that disturbs a radio, television, or phone signal. It is caused by unwanted electrical noise reaching the receiver, with common sources including lightning and atmospheric electricity, nearby electrical appliances, and weak or distant signals.
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