# state

> English word · Noun · IPA /steɪt/ · frequency rank #163

## Definitions
1. A condition; a set of circumstances applying at any given time.
2. A condition; a set of circumstances applying at any given time.
3. A condition; a set of circumstances applying at any given time.
4. A condition; a set of circumstances applying at any given time.
5. A condition; a set of circumstances applying at any given time.
6. A condition; a set of circumstances applying at any given time.
7. A condition; a set of circumstances applying at any given time.
8. A condition; a set of circumstances applying at any given time.
9. High social standing or circumstance.
10. High social standing or circumstance.
11. High social standing or circumstance.
12. High social standing or circumstance.
13. High social standing or circumstance.
14. High social standing or circumstance.
15. A polity or community.
16. A polity or community.
17. A polity or community.
18. A polity or community.
19. An element of the range of the random variables that define a random process.
20. The lexical aspect (aktionsart) of verbs or predicates that do not change over time.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *steh₂-
Proto-Italic *status
Latin statuslbor.
Old French estatbor.
Middle English stat
English state
From Middle English stat (as a noun); adopted c. 1200 from both Old French estat and Latin stātus (“manner of standing, attitude, position, carriage, manner, dress, apparel; and other senses”), from stāre (“to stand”). Doublet of estate and status. The sense of "polity" develops in the 14th century. Compare French être, Greek στέω (stéo), Italian stare, Portuguese estar, Romanian sta, and Spanish estar. The verb is first attested around the beginning of the 16th century. Related to English stand.

## Easily confused with
- **stay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-stay)
- **SWAT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-swat)
- **style** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-style)
- **store** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-store)
- **stone** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-stone)
- **Steve** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-steve)
- **stats** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-stats)
- **stays** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-stays)
- **stole** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-stole)
- **suite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-suite)
- **stoke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-stoke)
- **stove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-stove)
- **stave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-stave)
- **strat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-strat)
- **Stowe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-stowe)
- **suave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-suave)
- **swath** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-swath)
- **stipe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-stipe)
- **states** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-states)
- **status** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/state-vs-status)

## Common misspellings (7)
`satte`, `sstate`, `staet`, `statte`, `sttae`, `sttate`, `tsate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/state