sedentary
Americanadjective
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characterized by or requiring a sitting posture.
a sedentary occupation.
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accustomed to sit or rest a great deal or to take little exercise.
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Chiefly Zoology.
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abiding in one place; not migratory.
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pertaining to animals that move about little or are permanently attached to something, as a barnacle.
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adjective
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characterized by or requiring a sitting position
sedentary work
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tending to sit about without taking much exercise
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(of animals) moving about very little, usually because of attachment to a rock or other surface
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(of animals) not migratory
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sedentary
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin sedentārius “sitting,” equivalent to sedent- (stem of sedēns, present participle of sedēre “to sit 1 ”; see -ent) + -ārius -ary
Explanation
Scientists believe that one of the causes of the obesity epidemic sweeping the U.S. is our sedentary lifestyle. Sedentary means sitting a lot and refers to a person or job that is not very physically active. If you have a sedentary job, you might want to stand up and stretch every hour or so, and if your doctor says that you are too sedentary, she means that it would be healthier for you to exercise more. This adjective has a specialized meaning when referring to certain types of birds that stay in one area and do not migrate. Sedentary comes into English from French sédentaire, which is derived from the Latin word sedēre, "to sit."
Vocabulary lists containing sedentary
100 SAT words Beginning with "S"
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The Fault in Our Stars
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Charlotte's Web
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"This is notable, as people who are more sedentary have elevated risk for chronic diseases."
From Science Daily ● Jul. 13, 2026
“He does shoot baskets but cannot play basketball. He cannot play soccer and football like he used to. He is essentially sedentary and moves around as best he can,” the surgeon said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
A largely sedentary and inflexible creature, dependent on eucalyptus leaves for much of their water, koalas quickly develop dehydration when hotter conditions persist.
From Barron's ● May 26, 2026
The CCC does not suggest a maximum temperature but points to the example of Spain, where the maximum legal working temperature indoors is 27C for sedentary work and 25C for light physical work.
From BBC ● May 19, 2026
The arrival of founder domesticates enabled local people to become sedentary, and thereby increased the likelihood of local crops’ evolving from wild plants that were gathered, brought home and planted accidentally, and later planted intentionally.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
