statuary

1 of 2

noun

stat·​u·​ary ˈsta-chə-ˌwer-ē How to pronounce statuary (audio)
plural statuaries
1
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
Noun
There’s a children’s play garden with whimsical statuary and a rose garden where a swimming pool was previously installed. Emily Hedrick, Charlotte Observer, 1 Feb. 2024 Weber brought a kind of purity to the body, stripping it of clothing like Renaissance statuary. Soraya Roberts, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2024 The majesty, the space, the marble, the arc, the statuary. Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2023 Worcester Art Museum Elizabeth Marlowe, an art historian at Colgate University, said the bust at Worcester — like the large statue of Marcus Aurelius seized from the Cleveland Museum of Art last month — is part of a trove of bronze statuary allegedly looted by villagers from Bubon in the 1960s. Malcolm Gay, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2023 Pere Lachaise, with ornate tombs and fine-arts statuary. Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2023 This sort of discovery is rare in the world of Greco-Roman statuary, where headless torsos and torso-less heads are, though ubiquitous, seldom reconnected. Graham Bowley, New York Times, 12 June 2023 Enchanted Moments is a store that sells books and supplies for spell work, crystals, divination tools, greeting cards, herbs, incense, jewelry, oils, seasonal decor, statuary for altars, soaps, stones and tarot and oracle cards. Charles Infosino, The Enquirer, 10 May 2023 Twice a year, too, the cathedral’s statuary and decorative elements are given a physical checkup by specialized workers who swing from cranes, inspecting them for fractures and fissures. Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2023
Adjective
The adjoining primary bath has a mosaic-patterned marble floor, statuary white marble walls and a seven-foot-long vanity with a quartz top. Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 21 Nov. 2022 In the movies, Black characters were jolly statuary — hoisting luggage, serving food, tending children — meant to decorate a white American’s dream. New York Times, 7 Jan. 2022 The 11-foot statue, which weighs more than 6,000 lbs., was taken out of the largest (and last) piece of statuary marble from Michelangelo’s quarry in Italy. Kevin L. Clark, Essence, 25 Oct. 2021 Renaissance Garden features foliage, flowerbeds, water features, statuary and more. Elaine Rewolinski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'statuary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near statuary

Cite this Entry

“Statuary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/statuary. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

statuary

noun
stat·​u·​ary
ˈstach-ə-ˌwer-ē
plural statuaries
1
2
: a collection of statues
statuary adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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