still life

noun

plural still lifes
1
: a picture consisting predominantly of inanimate objects
2
: the category of graphic arts concerned with inanimate subject matter

Examples of still life in a Sentence

an exhibit of still lifes She prefers portraiture to still life.
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.
But they are drawn to still life, so a lot of my artwork now is centered on still life. Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 Tuesday’s sale produced just three buy-ins and set six artist auction records, led by Sir Thomas Lawrence’s Portrait of the Duke of Wellington and a pair of Jan van Huysum still lifes. Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 1 July 2026 The still life from 1982 was a stark departure from Richter’s exhibition in Germany of large-scale abstractions. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 25 June 2026 Pinned down while there is still life to be lived. Literary Hub, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for still life

Word History

First Known Use

1695, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of still life was in 1695

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Still life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/still%20life. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

still life

noun
plural still lifes
: a picture of an arrangement of objects
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