A statue is a free-standing sculpture in which the realistic, full-length figures of persons or animals are carved or cast in a durable material such as wood, metal or stone. Typical statues are life-sized or close to life-size; a sculpture that represents persons or animals in full figure but that is small enough to lift and carry is a statuette or figurine, whilst one more than twice life-size is a colossal statue.

'प्रतिमा' शब्द देवविशेष, व्यक्तिविशेष अथवा पदार्थविशेष की प्रतिकृति, बिंब, मूर्ति अथवा आकृति सभी का बोधक है; परंतु यहाँ पर प्रतिमा से तात्पर्य भक्तिभावना से भावित देवविशेष की मूर्ति अथवा देवभावना से अनुप्राणित पदार्थविशेष की प्रतिकृति से है।