sedentary

[sed-n-ter-ee]

adjective

1. characterized by or requiring a sitting posture.

   a sedentary occupation.

2. accustomed to sit or rest a great deal or to take little exercise.

3. Chiefly Zoology.

   1. abiding in one place; not migratory.

   2. pertaining to animals that move about little or are permanently attached to something, as a barnacle.

sedentary

/ ˈsɛdəntərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

1. characterized by or requiring a sitting position

   sedentary work

2. tending to sit about without taking much exercise

3. (of animals) moving about very little, usually because of attachment to a rock or other surface

4. (of animals) not migratory

Other Word Forms

• sedentarily adverb
• sedentariness noun
• nonsedentarily adverb
• nonsedentariness noun
• nonsedentary adjective
• presedentary adjective
• unsedentary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sedentary¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin sedentārius “sitting,” equivalent to sedent- (stem of sedēns, present participle of sedēre “to sit ¹ ”; -ent ) + -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of sedentary¹

C16: from Latin sedentārius, from sedēre to sit

Example Sentences

“Protection here simply means don’t do too much too soon, but also don’t get too comfortable being sedentary either,” Rothstein says.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Rising cases of these hormone-related cancers are also associated with lifestyle shifts - including later pregnancies, reduced breastfeeding, obesity, and sedentary habits.

Read more on BBC

None of the participants had a dementia diagnosis, but they had risk factors including family history, cardiovascular disease, poor diets and sedentary lifestyles.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For those who are largely sedentary, trying to walk 10,000 steps on day one may not be practical.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The study was novel in that it categorized how people divided their days into three behaviors: sleep, sedentary and active.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• inactive