First Known Use: 1598
Dictionary
sedentary
adjective sed·en·tary \ˈse-dən-ˌter-ē\
: doing or involving a lot of sitting : not doing or involving much physical activity
: staying or living in one place instead of moving to different places
Full Definition of SEDENTARY
1
: not migratory : settled <sedentary birds> <sedentary civilizations>
2
a : doing or requiring much sitting <a sedentary job> b : not physically active <a sedentary lifestyle>
3
: permanently attached <sedentary barnacles>
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Origin of SEDENTARY
Middle French sedentaire, from Latin sedentarius, from sedent-, sedens, present participle of sedēre to sit — more at sit
Other Physiology Terms
Rhymes with SEDENTARY
actuary, adversary, airy-fairy, ancillary, antiquary, apiary, arbitrary, aviary, axillary, bacillary, beriberi, bestiary, biliary, black raspberry, Bloody Mary, boysenberry, breviary, budgetary, calamari, calamary, candleberry, Canterbury, capillary, carpellary, cassowary, catenary, cautionary, cavitary, cemetery, centenary, certiorari, checkerberry, chinaberry, cometary, commentary, commissary, condottiere, coralberry, corollary, coronary, culinary, customary, dictionary, dietary, dignitary, dromedary, dysentery, elderberry, emissary, estuary, farkleberry, February, formulary, fragmentary, fritillary, functionary, funerary, honorary, huckleberry, intermarry, janissary, January, lamasery, lapidary, lectionary, legendary, legionary, lingonberry, literary, loganberry, luminary, mammillary, mandatary, maxillary, medullary, mercenary, miliary, military, millenary, milliary, millinery, missionary, momentary, monastery, mortuary, necessary, ordinary, ossuary, partridgeberry, pensionary, pigmentary, planetary, Pondicherry, prebendary, presbytery, pulmonary, quaternary, red mulberry, reliquary, rowanberry, salivary, salmonberry, salutary, sanctuary, sanguinary, sanitary, secondary, secretary, seminary, silverberry, solitary, sour cherry, stationary, stationery, statuary, subcontrary, sublunary, sugarberry, sumptuary, syllabary, temporary, tertiary, thimbleberry, Tipperary, Tom and Jerry, topiary, tributary, tutelary, Typhoid Mary, unitary, urinary, vestiary, Virgin Mary, visionary, voluntary, vulnerary, Waterbury, whortleberry, winterberry
SEDENTARY Defined for Kids
sedentary
adjective sed·en·tary \ˈse-dən-ˌter-ē\
Definition of SEDENTARY for Kids
: doing much sitting : not physically active
Medical Dictionary
sedentary
adjective sed·en·tary \ˈsed-ən-ˌter-ē\
Medical Definition of SEDENTARY
: doing or requiring much sitting : characterized by a lack of physical activity <increased risk of heart disease for those with sedentary jobs>
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