status quo ante

noun

status quo an·​te -ˈan-tē How to pronounce status quo ante (audio)
: the state of affairs that existed previously

Examples of status quo ante in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Because one thing is clear: If and when Ukraine proves victorious—if and when Ukraine boots Russians from every inch of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea—there won’t be a simple return to the status quo ante. Casey Michel, The New Republic, 16 Sep. 2022 The other solution is to declare remote working over and revert to the status quo ante. Robert Sher, Forbes, 21 June 2022 Either way, the result—again—is just a version of the status quo ante for Britain, only indisputably worse. Tom McTague, The Atlantic, 19 June 2022 This makes the outraged reaction to Henry Kissinger’s suggestion of a deal around a return to the status quo ante bizarre. The Editors, National Review, 8 June 2022 See all Example Sentences for status quo ante 

Word History

Etymology

Latin, state in which previously

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of status quo ante was in 1800

Dictionary Entries Near status quo ante

Cite this Entry

“Status quo ante.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/status%20quo%20ante. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Legal Definition

status quo ante

noun
status quo an·​te -ˈkwō-ˈan-tē How to pronounce status quo ante (audio)
: the state of affairs that existed previously
restore the status quo ante
Etymology

Latin, state in which previously

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!