status

 
Pronunciation: /ˈsteɪtəs/

noun

  • 1relative social or professional position; standing: an improvement in the status of women
  • [mass noun] high rank or social standing: those who enjoy wealth and status
  • the official classification given to a person, country, or organization, determining their rights or responsibilities: the duchy had been elevated to the status of a principality
  • 2the situation at a particular time during a process: an update on the status of the bill
  • a posting on a social networking site that indicates a user’s current situation, state of mind, or opinion about something: when I updated my status on Facebook yesterday I said I was ‘seeking a sense of purpose’ [as modifier]: I noticed that there were some interesting status updates from some of my local friends

Origin:

late 18th century (as a legal term meaning 'legal standing'): from Latin, literally 'standing', from stare 'to stand'