Staff Meaning
/stɑːf/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA long, straight, thick wooden rod or stick, especially one used to assist in walking.
nounA series of horizontal lines on which musical notes are written; a stave.
Sentence Examples
Fortune is the rod of the weak, and the staff of the brave.
Our staff is eager to help you.
I was treated with the utmost courtesy by the staff.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hotel ____ includes front desk clerks and housekeeping.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The entire hotel ____ worked hard to ensure that all the guests had a comfortable and pleasant stay.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English staf, from Old English stæf (“letter of the alphabet”), from Proto-West Germanic *stab, from Proto-Germanic *stabaz. Cognate with Dutch staf, German Stab, Danish stav, Swedish stav. Sense of "group of military officers that assists a commander" and similar meanings, attested from 1702, is influenced by or is even from German Stab.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"And thus ſhall ye eate it [the lamb]: with your loines girded, your ſhooes on your feet, and your ſtaffe in your hand: and ye ſhall eate it in haſte: it is the Lords Paſſeouer."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 12:11, column 2:
"The case was that of a murder. It had an element of mystery about it, however, which was puzzling the authorities. A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff."
— 1927, F. E. Penny, chapter 4, in Pulling the Strings:
"No department of the Southern Railway escaped some share of the work involved, and the outdoor traffic and locomotive staffs in particular were engaged literally night and day, snatching a few hours' sleep as opportunity offered, until the task was completed."
— 1940 July, “Notes and News: A Magnificent Transport Achievement”, in Railway Magazine, page 419:
"Most staff do not have the skills to cope with such challenging patients, who too often receive "impersonal" care and suffer from boredom, the first National Audit of Dementia found. It says hospitals should introduce "dementia champions"."
— 2011 December 16, Denis Campbell, “Hospital staff 'lack skills to cope with dementia patients'”, in Guardian:
"It turns out that, in journalistic terms, and especially at the FT, where many staff see out their entire careers, seven years is nothing."
— 2023 November 25, Rebecca Rose, “How old is too old for a profile pic?”, in FT Weekend (Life & Arts section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 22:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hotel ____ includes front desk clerks and housekeeping.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The entire hotel ____ worked hard to ensure that all the guests had a comfortable and pleasant stay.