The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

static variable

    A kind of local variable in certain
   programming languages that retains its value even when
   program execution moves outside its scope.  This contrasts
   with an ordinary, automatic variable, which is reinitialised
   (possibly to an undefined value) every time the block is
   entered.

   Static variables have a fixed location in the data section of
   the program's address space whereas automatic variables are
   typically allocated on the stack.

   (2009-12-14)