adjective

static

/ˈstætɪk/ · say it: STAT·ik

lacking movement or change

In Describing & Comparing

In more detail

1. (adjective) not moving or changing; staying in the same place or state

2. (noun) electrical noise or crackling sound in audio or on a radio or television

3. (adjective) relating to electricity that builds up on objects and is released suddenly

Examples

1. The price of gas has remained static for three months.
2. The old radio was full of static, making it hard to hear the station.
3. You get a shock of static electricity when you touch a doorknob in dry weather.

How to use static

As an adjective meaning unchanging, static describes things that lack movement or variation and is often used in technical, scientific, or analytical contexts. As a noun, it refers to auditory or visual interference, commonly heard on radios or phones. The electrical sense is technical but widely understood.

Common phrases

static electricity
static noise
static discharge
remain static
static position

Synonyms

stationary · motionless · fixed · unchanging · inert

Opposites

dynamic · moving · changing

Word family

statically (adverb) · statics (noun - physics) · staticness (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse static with statistic; they are unrelated words with different pronunciations and meanings.

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