--- - |2- Abstract Increasing evidence showed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) played an important role in the occurrence and development of tumors. To date, lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 12 (SNHG12) has revealed an oncogenic role in various tumors. However, the role of SNHG12 in cervical cancer is still unclear. Therefore, we focused on the biological function and molecular mechanism of SNHG12 in the tumorigenesis of cervical cancer. In this study, the expression of miR‐125b was observably downregulated in cervical cancer cells. Meanwhile, the expression of SNHG12 was obviously upregulated in cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa, SiHa, Caski, C4‐1, and C33A) compared with the immortalized cervical epithelial cells. The further assay showed that miR‐125b was a target of SNHG12 in cervical cancer. Moreover, a negative relationship between miR‐125b and SNHG12 was found in cervical cancer. In addition, SNHG12 inhibition restrained the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cervical cancer cells. Meanwhile, miR‐125b mimics repressed the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). The further assay showed that STAT3 was a target of miR‐125b in cervical cancer. In addition, sh‐STAT3 repressed the migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells. Furthermore, it showed that miR‐125b inhibitors reversed STAT3 expression restrained by the reduction of SNHG12 expression. In general, SNHG12 modulated STAT3 by sponging miR‐125b in cervical cancer and played an important role in the development of cervical cancer. - Journal of Cellular Physiology, EarlyView.