English Reference
Adjective

sedentary

adj.
C1 Advanced US /ˈsɛdənˌtɛɹi/ UK /sˈɛdəntəɹi/ seden·tary Anthropology Medicine

adj.spending a lot of time sitting down and not moving much. You use this to describe a lifestyle or job that does not involve much physical activity.

adj.characterised by much sitting and little physical exercise. Often describes a lifestyle, occupation, or species that remains in one place.


SIMPLE

Office workers often have a sedentary lifestyle.

CONTEXTUAL

Doctors warn that a sedentary job can lead to health problems if you do not exercise after work.

COMPLEX

The transition from a nomadic existence to a sedentary agricultural society fundamentally altered human social structures and dietary requirements.

Usage

Often used to modify nouns like 'lifestyle', 'job', 'occupation', or 'habit'.

Sedentary behavior has been associated with poorer academic achievement, while physical activity is known to support brain function, particularly in adults.

ScienceDaily· 17 Aug 2026

This means more people are in sedentary office jobs so spend more time sitting down than moving around.

BBC News· 7 Aug 2026

From Middle French sédentaire, from Latin sedentārius (“sitting”), from sedeō (“I sit, I am seated”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated