stat
stat — noun
1. numerical facts that have been collected and studied together, used for comparin
numerical facts that have been collected and studied together, used for comparing things or understanding a situation
According to the latest crime stats, burglaries have fallen by fifteen percent.
the stats on [topic] show change
Joaquín studied the team's performance stats before the championship game.
possessive noun + stats: 'team's performance stats'
The government released new employment stats that showed a drop in jobless numbers.
Sora looked at the sales stats to see which product was selling best.
文法句型
the stats on [something]
stats show / suggest / indicate
用法筆記
Frequently plural. Often refers to a broad collection of data about a topic rather than a single figure.
常見錯誤
2. one specific number or piece of numerical information that tells you something a
one specific number or piece of numerical information that tells you something about a situation or subject
Here is a surprising stat: over ninety percent of adults own a mobile phone.
introductory frame: 'Here is a [adjective] stat'
Ayana came across an alarming stat about road accidents in the report.
collocation: alarming stat
That stat about rising sea levels was enough to make the committee act.
The teacher asked each student to share one interesting stat from their research.
- statistic
the full form of 'stat', preferred in formal writing
- figure
a specific number, often used in business or finance contexts
- data point
more technical, used in scientific and analytical contexts
文法句型
a surprising / alarming / interesting stat
用法筆記
Countable — you can say 'one stat', 'a few stats', 'several stats'. When you want to highlight a single surprising figure, this is the sense to use.
常見錯誤
stat — adverb
1. used especially in medical situations to mean that something must be done at onc
used especially in medical situations to mean that something must be done at once, without any delay
The doctor wrote 'stat' on the patient's chart for an urgent blood test.
written instruction: 'stat' on a medical chart
Nurse Diya, I need a crash cart stat — the patient's heart has stopped.
medical emergency command: 'need [item] stat'
The lab technician processed the blood sample stat because every minute mattered.
Bring the results to the operating room stat, the surgeon said firmly.
- immediately
standard English, works in any context
- urgently
more formal and broader than 'stat'
- right away
informal and general, not specific to medicine
- later
opposite of immediate action
文法句型
do [something] stat
need [something] stat
用法筆記
Derived from the Latin 'statim'. Used mainly in hospitals and emergency medical dramas. Not used in everyday conversation except as a joking reference.
常見錯誤
stat — abbreviation
1. short written form of the word 'statute', used in legal writing when referring t
short written form of the word 'statute', used in legal writing when referring to a specific law or collection of laws
The lawyer cited stat 42 in her argument about tenant rights.
legal citation format: 'stat [number]'
According to California Penal Code stat 187, the crime carries a maximum sentence.
The court based its decision on a stat that was passed in 1998.
The legal team checked the wording of stat 15 before filing the appeal.
文法句型
stat [number]
[name] stat
用法筆記
Found in legal citations and court documents. Learners at CEFR C1 or higher studying law or legal English may encounter this form.
stat — noun combining form
1. a device or substance that keeps a physical property, such as temperature or ele
a device or substance that keeps a physical property, such as temperature or electrical current, at a steady level
A thermostat keeps the temperature in a room at a steady level.
common example: thermostat = heat-stabiliser
The rheostat controls the brightness of the stage lights by adjusting the electric current.
A humidistat turns the air conditioner on when moisture levels get too high.
Henry set the thermostat to twenty degrees before leaving for work.
文法句型
[noun]-stat
用法筆記
This is a combining form (suffix-like element) that appears at the end of scientific and technical nouns. The most common word using this form is 'thermostat'.
2. a scientific instrument that keeps a mirror, telescope, or other device pointing
a scientific instrument that keeps a mirror, telescope, or other device pointing steadily in one direction
A heliostat tracks the sun with a mirror and reflects light to a fixed spot.
heliostat = sun-tracking reflector
The siderostat keeps the telescope pointed at the same star throughout the night.
siderostat = star-tracking instrument
A coelostat in the lab sends sunlight into an optical testing chamber.
During the eclipse, the heliostat reflected the sun's image onto a screen.
文法句型
[noun]-stat
用法筆記
Highly technical. Found in astronomy and optical engineering. Most learners will encounter 'heliostat' (for sunlight) or 'siderostat' (for stars).
3. a chemical substance that stops or slows the growth of bacteria, fungi, or other
a chemical substance that stops or slows the growth of bacteria, fungi, or other microorganisms without killing them
Bacteriostat is added to some eye drops to prevent bacteria from growing in the bottle.
bacteriostat = bacteria growth inhibitor
The fungistat kept the mould from spreading across the damp basement walls.
Scientists added a bacteriostat to the culture dish to study slowed bacterial growth.
Fungistat in wall paint prevents mildew in humid bathrooms.
- -cide
a suffix meaning 'killer', as in bactericide (kills bacteria) vs bacteriostat (stops growth)
文法句型
[noun]-stat
用法筆記
Distinct from '-cide' (which kills): '-stat' substances only stop growth. This distinction matters in microbiology and medicine.