stat

US: /stæt/ ,(stat)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

stat¹ /stæt/   n. [countable]

1. Informal Terms Also, 'stat. a thermostat.
2. Informal Terms, Photography a photostat.

-stat, suffix. 

1. -stat is attached to roots and sometimes words to form nouns with the meaning "the name of a device or a substance that stabilizes or makes constant (the root or word preceding)'':
   thermo- (= heat) + -stat → thermostat (= device regulating heat).

-stat-, root. 

1. -stat- comes from Latin or Greek, where it has the meaning "stand;
   remain.'' This meaning is found in such words as: instate, interstate, misstate, overstate, reinstate, rheostat, state, static, station, statistics, statue, status, statute, statutory, thermostat, understate.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

stat¹ (stat), [Informal.]
n. 

1. Informal Terms Also, 'stat. thermostat.
2. Informal Terms, Photography photostat.

• by shortening 1955–60

stat² (stat), [Informal.]
n. 

1. Statistics, Informal Terms statistic.
2. Statistics, Informal Terms Usually, stats. statistics.

adj. 

3. Statistics, Informal Terms of, pertaining to, or containing statistics:
   Some sports fans memorize all the stat sheets published about a team.

• shortening of statistics, statistic

stat³  (stat), adv. [Med. Informal.]

1. Medicine immediately.

• Latin statim

-stat, 

1. a combining form used in the names of devices that stabilize or make constant what is specified by the initial element:
   thermostat; rheostat.

• Greek -statēs, equivalent. to sta- (stem of histánai to make stand; see stand) + -tēs agent noun, nominal suffix

stat., 

1. (in prescriptions) immediately.
• Latin statim
2. statuary.
3. statue.
4. statute.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

-stat combining_form:in_noun:countable

1. indicating a device that causes something to remain stationary or constant: thermostat

Etymology: from Greek -statēs, from histanai to cause to stand