statuary

1 of 2

noun

stat·​u·​ary ˈsta-chə-ˌwer-ē How to pronounce statuary (audio)
plural statuaries
1
: sculptor
2
a
: the art of making statues
b
: a collection of statues : statues

statuary

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or suitable for statues

Examples of statuary in a Sentence

Noun a fine example of late Renaissance statuary
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.
Noun
The stately foyer, adorned with granite, murals and statuary, would be kept intact and open to all. — Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026 Garden statuaries are a whimsical way to bring seasonal charm to your outdoor space. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Prieto explained the art of statuary casting. — Elaine Sciolino, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2025 Renaissance Garden features foliage, flowerbeds, water features, statuary and more. — Elaine Rewolinski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2021 See All Example Sentences for statuary

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1609, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of statuary was in 1542

Rhymes for statuary

See All Rhymes for statuary

Browse Nearby Words

statuarist
statuary
statuary bronze
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Statuary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/statuary. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

statuary

noun
stat·​u·​ary
ˈstach-ə-ˌwer-ē
plural statuaries
1
: sculpture entry 1 sense 1
2
: a collection of statues
statuary adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All