stature

noun

stat·​ure ˈsta-chər How to pronounce stature (audio)
1
: natural height (as of a person) in an upright position
2
: quality or status gained by growth, development, or achievement

Examples of stature in a Sentence

The university has grown in stature during her time as president. a man of surprisingly great stature
Recent Examples on the Web Mike Johnson, who’s about five feet eight, derives a disarming effect from his shorter stature. David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2024 Treasured in hip-hop circles for his sophisticated, sample-rich, sonically colorful beats, Dilla’s stature has only grown since his death at a youthful 32 amid complications from lupus. Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 13 Mar. 2024 But his enduring political stature as the Cold War heated up and the impact of lower inflation on voter attitudes provided insulation against economic problems. Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Marley’s stature on the international stage has only grown in the decades since his death. John Blake, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024 Don't let the small stature of a finger vibe fool you: These discreet picks bring on some climax-inducing vibrations. Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 3 Mar. 2024 Central to Shakespeare’s tragedy is the idea of the Fall, which implies social stature of a royal level. Andrew Aoyama, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2024 Ads around the country Newsom’s funds are being used to boost his national stature, through spending on ads and helping other campaigns. David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2024 Kerr had been a lame duck coach up until this point, which is rare for a figure of his stature. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stature.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French estature, stature, from Latin statura, from status, past participle of stare to stand — more at stand

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stature was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near stature

Cite this Entry

“Stature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stature. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

stature

noun
stat·​ure ˈstach-ər How to pronounce stature (audio)
1
: natural height (as of a person) in an upright position
2
: quality or status gained by growth, development, or achievement
artists of stature

Medical Definition

stature

noun
stat·​ure ˈstach-ər How to pronounce stature (audio)
: natural height (as of a person) in an upright position

More from Merriam-Webster on stature

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