stationary

[ stey-shuh-ner-ee ]

adjective

1. standing still; not moving.
2. having a fixed position; not movable.
3. established in one place; not itinerant or migratory.
4. remaining in the same condition or state; not changing:

   The market price has remained stationary for a week.

5. geostationary.

noun

, plural sta·tion·ar·ies.

1. a person or thing that is stationary.

stationary

/ ˈsteɪʃənərɪ /

adjective

1. not moving; standing still
2. not able to be moved
3. showing no change

   the doctors said his condition was stationary

4. tending to remain in one place

Usage

See stationery

Derived Forms

• ˈstationarily, adverb
• ˈstationariness, noun

Other Words From

• non·station·ary adjective noun plural nonstationaries
• quasi-station·ary adjective
• un·station·ary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stationary¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Latin word statiōnārius. See station, -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of stationary¹

C15: from Latin statiōnārius , from statiō station

Example Sentences

In some cases, we found photosynthetic bacteria that were literally frozen in the ice — totally stationary and yet they could still carry out photosynthesis.

From Quanta Magazine

Still, auditors chastised the agency for doing little to curb emissions from mobile sources like cars, while acknowledging its primary role is to regulate “stationary sources” coming from buildings and shipyards.

From Voice of San Diego

The agency’s primary role is to regulate “stationary sources” of air pollution, basically any polluter that doesn’t move like a shipyard, Costco or even a school.

From Voice of San Diego

Participants will be on stationary bikes in their homes rather than real bikes on the road, and there are some other key differences between the virtual Tour and the real thing.

From Singularity Hub 

Some other stationary spots, called “anti-nodes,” also develop.

From Science News For Students

“I usually see people head to the stationary bikes,” Steinbrick says.

From The Daily Beast

Senhor José remains stationary, but this lengthy series of clauses propels the reader along an unmarked path.

From The Daily Beast

Let me tell you, you look pretty silly nearly whiffing a stationary ball.

From The Daily Beast

Five minutes later, Grace bounds down the stationary escalator, clutching a bacon cheeseburger and a Coke.

From The Daily Beast

Aristotle saw a universe with a stationary earth at the center and Galileo saw a universe with the earth in motion about the sun.

From The Daily Beast

The trains were pulled up the incline at the Lickey by powerful stationary engines.

From Project Gutenberg

The cross-head, side rods, and boiler were very similar to the Welsh stationary engines of that date.

From Project Gutenberg

To the great amazement of the Moro chiefs, the waggons suddenly became stationary, whilst the released horses galloped on ahead!

From Project Gutenberg

There is a tolerable theatre, but the dramatic corps are not stationary.

From Project Gutenberg

Of the Somali tribes the Herti dwell near the coast and are more or less stationary.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• immobile
• motionless
• parked
• stagnant
• static

Stationary Vs. Stationery

What’s the difference between stationary and stationery?

Stationary with an a is typically used as an adjective that means standing still, fixed in place, or not moving, as in a stationary bike or Face the camera and try to remain stationary. Stationery with an e is a noun that refers to paper for writing or writing materials. It most commonly refers to nice paper for writing, such as fancy notecards or special monogrammed paper for writing letters—you normally wouldn’t call just any old paper stationery.

The two words mean completely different things, so the trick is remembering which spelling to use for each.

Try this: think of the a in stationary as standing for anchor, which keeps it fixed in place. Think of the e in stationery as standing for envelope.

Here’s an example of stationary and stationery used correctly in a sentence.

Example: If you think about it, paperweights were invented to keep stationery stationary.

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between stationary and stationery.

Quiz yourself on stationary vs. stationery!

Should stationary or stationery be used in the following sentence?

I love writing letters on hotel _____.