sedentary
SED-un-ter-ee
/ˈsedntri/
tending to spend much time seated; somewhat inactive.
While 'lazy' implies a character flaw, 'sedentary' is a descriptive term for a lifestyle or a job that requires little physical movement.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Latin 'sedere', meaning 'to sit'. It is a direct cousin to the word 'sedate' and 'sediment'—all of which involve things that have settled down and aren't going anywhere.
Word relationships
- inactive: A general term for not moving, whereas sedentary specifically implies sitting.
- stationary: Implies staying in one place, but not necessarily sitting down.
- active: Engaging in physical movement regularly.
- mobile: Able to move or be moved freely.
Commonly confused with
- sediment: Sediment refers to matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid; sedentary refers to a person who stays settled in a chair.
Word family
- sedentariness (noun): The state of being sedentary.
Collocations
- sedentary lifestyle
- sedentary occupation
- sedentary habits
Example sentences
- "A sedentary life is the real sin against the Holy Spirit. Only those thoughts that come by walking have any value." A warning from a philosopher about the dangers of inactivity.
- "The rise of the sedentary office job has been linked to a variety of chronic health issues, including obesity and heart disease." A modern health warning regarding office work.
Memory hook
Think of a 'sedan' car; you spend the whole time sitting down in it. Sedentary = Sitting.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a temporary state of rest; it refers to a long-term habit or condition.
Fun facts
- The word was originally used in the 16th century to describe people who worked sitting down, like weavers or clerks.
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