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If you stand pat in draw poker you're betting on the cards in your hand being better than any you're likely to draw. It didn't take long for stand pat to move from the poker table, where it first appeared in the late 1800s, to the realm of politics; by the early 20th century, to stand pat was to oppose any change in U.S. tariff policy. The term continues to be used mainly in U.S. English, where it's applied to everything from a coach's decision not to change out players during a game to a homeowner's decision not to refinance. The nouns standpatter ("one who resists or opposes change") and standpattism ("resistance to change" or "reluctance to take positive action") are also used, although generally only in political contexts.
Synonyms
Examples of standpat in a Sentence
Bryan Mena, CNN, 14 Feb. 2025
Even if the Tigers stand pat or make only smaller bullpen additions, a combination of Foley, Beau Brieske, Vest, Kahnle and others seems like a combination able to navigate the late innings, regardless of who gets the save.
—Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic, 30 Jan. 2025
When Team Ueda stood pat instead, many figured the BOJ feared rocking the stock market and sent the yen skyrocketing.
—William Pesek, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
The front office essentially stood pat and the pressure is fully on in Indiana this year.
—Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
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Dictionary Entries Near standpat
Cite this Entry
“Standpat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standpat. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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stand pat
verb
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