sedentary
adjective
sed·en·tary
ˈse-dᵊn-ˌter-ē 
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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Sit and Learn About Sedentary
Sedentary comes from the Latin verb sedēre, meaning "to sit." Other descendants of sedēre include dissident, insidious, preside, reside, and subsidy. Sedēre is also the base of the rare sedens, a noun that refers to a person who remains a resident of the place or region of their birth.
Examples of sedentary in a Sentence
Editing the dictionary is a sedentary job.
The work is very sedentary.
Their health problems were caused by their sedentary lifestyles.
He became sedentary later on in his life.
Recent Examples on the Web
Osteoporosis can also be caused by certain unhealthy habits, such as being sedentary, consuming excessive alcohol and using tobacco.
—
Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
This is our first warning sign that something is amiss, since ten-minute miles are a very different form of exercise for a fit 30-year-old and a mostly sedentary 80-year-old.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 30 Jan. 2026
Reducing daily sedentary time by about 30 minutes was linked to fewer deaths in the population.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Cardiac risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, family history of heart disease, and tobacco use, as well as a sedentary lifestyle, Kramer told CBS News.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sedentary
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
This is our first warning sign that something is amiss, since ten-minute miles are a very different form of exercise for a fit 30-year-old and a mostly sedentary 80-year-old.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 30 Jan. 2026
Reducing daily sedentary time by about 30 minutes was linked to fewer deaths in the population.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Cardiac risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, family history of heart disease, and tobacco use, as well as a sedentary lifestyle, Kramer told CBS News.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sedentary
Cite this Entry
“Sedentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sedentary. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sedentary
adjective
sed·en·tary
ˈsed-ᵊn-ˌter-ē
1
: not migratory : settled
sedentary birds
2
: doing or requiring much sitting
a sedentary job
Medical Definition
sedentary
adjective
sed·en·tary
ˈsed-ᵊn-ˌter-ē
: 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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