sedentary

American  

[sed-n-ter-ee] / ˈsɛd nˌtɛr i /

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.

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sedentary British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

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."

Example Sentences

Worsening diets and sedentary lifestyles are also a culprit.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

"Once a person starts earning money, he becomes more sedentary here," says bariatric surgeon Sanjay Borude.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

"A terrible kind of sedentary childhood I had, when I think about it," he said.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

Previous research has largely examined links between sedentary lifestyles and depression, rather than analyzing how switching to specific alternative activities might influence the risk of developing the condition.

From Science Daily • Feb. 12, 2026

By contrast, sedentary people, unconstrained by problems of carrying young children on treks, can bear and raise as many children as they can feed.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Related Words

• inactive