What does stationary mean?
Stationary means not moving or staying in one place. It is commonly used for vehicles, objects, people, and targets that remain fixed, as in “remain stationary,” and it can also describe an institution, process, or market that does not change or develop over time. The word comes from the same Latin root associated with station and related words meaning to stand or establish a position. Although the noun use is uncommon, a stationary can be a person or thing assigned to remain at a fixed place, especially in a police or security context. Stationary should not be confused with stationery, meaning paper and other writing materials. The distinction is commonly tested by context: something that stays put is stationary, while an envelope is stationery.
Not moving or changing position; fixed in one place.
"The camera remains stationary throughout the experiment."
Also used figuratively for a person, organization, process, or situation that makes little or no progress.
A person who remains in a fixed position, especially one assigned to guard or watch a particular place.
"The stationary reported movement near the entrance."
This noun use is uncommon and is chiefly associated with police or security work.
The plural is used only with the rare noun meaning a person assigned to a fixed position.
"The stationaries remained at their assigned posts throughout the night."
Stationary and stationery share a Latin root: one stays in place, while the other helps you put your thoughts on paper.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stationary come from?
The adjective derives from Latin stationarius, meaning “standing” or “remaining in place,” from the root of stāre, “to stand.” English borrowed the word in the 16th century for things that remain fixed. Stationery developed from the same Latin family through French and originally referred to the business or place where goods stood for sale, before coming to mean writing materials.
Related word forms
How stationary is actually used
As an adjective, stationary contrasts with mobile and describes both physical stillness and a lack of change or development. The noun sense is uncommon outside contexts involving people assigned to fixed positions. In informal use, the adjective is sometimes contrasted with a person or vehicle that moves or changes position.
Easily confused with stationary
Stationary means remaining in one place, whereas stationery means writing materials such as paper and envelopes.
Stationary describes something that is not moving, while stationed describes someone or something assigned to a particular place or post.