A fixed list of specific contacts, manually added and not automatically updated based on ongoing criteria — the list stays exactly as it was set at the time it was built, unless someone manually edits it.
Why it matters
Static lists are the right tool for a one-time, specific group — attendees of a particular past event, for instance — where the membership genuinely shouldn't change automatically, as opposed to an ongoing, criteria-based audience that should stay current.
In a sentence
"We keep a static list of everyone who attended last year's conference, since that group is fixed and shouldn't change even as new contacts meet similar criteria going forward."
Related terms
- Antonyms: Smart list / Active list.
- Often confused with: Smart list (see above — the key distinction is whether membership updates automatically based on ongoing criteria, or stays fixed once set).
- Synonyms: Fixed list.