What does sedentary mean?
Sedentary describes something characterized by prolonged sitting or a lack of physical activity. It is commonly applied to lifestyles, jobs, occupations, habits, and behaviors, especially in discussions about health and workplace wellbeing. A sedentary person may spend long periods seated at a desk, in front of a screen, or during travel, and a sedentary lifestyle generally involves too little movement for good long-term health. The word can also describe activities that require or encourage extended sitting, such as desk work. It is more specific than simply saying that someone is inactive, because it points to sitting as the characteristic pattern of behavior. In medical and public-health writing, sedentary behavior is often contrasted with regular physical activity and is associated with risks such as cardiovascular disease and reduced mobility. The term is used in both British and American English and is usually formal but readily understood.
adjectiveInvolving or characterized by prolonged sitting and little physical activity. A sedentary lifestyle or occupation is one in which a person spends much of the time sitting or remaining inactive.
- Involving prolonged sitting or physical inactivity
- Characterized by a lifestyle or occupation with little physical activity
"Regular movement breaks can make a sedentary workday healthier and more comfortable."
"He spent the afternoon in a sedentary office task that left him stiff and restless."
"Public health campaigns encourage people to avoid a sedentary lifestyle."
"The study found that sedentary workers had higher average blood pressure than more active workers."
A sedentary life can feel still, but its effects are anything but stationary: prolonged sitting is associated with serious health risks.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sedentary come from?
Sedentary comes from Latin sedentarius, meaning “sitting” or “accustomed to sitting,” formed from sedere, “to sit.” The word entered English in the seventeenth century through Latin and French. Many English words share the Latin root sedere, including resident, preside, subside, and sedate, although their meanings developed in different directions.
How sedentary is actually used
Sedentary is generally formal but widely used in health, workplace, and lifestyle contexts. It describes a condition, habit, or activity associated with little movement rather than simply indicating that something is temporarily motionless.
Easily confused with sedentary
Stationary means staying in the same place, whereas sedentary specifically describes a way of life or activity involving prolonged sitting.