stationery

noun

sta·​tio·​nery ˈstā-shə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce stationery (audio)
1
: materials (such as paper, pens, and ink) for writing or typing
2
: letter paper usually accompanied with matching envelopes

Did you know?

stationary or stationery?

The Internet is awash with mnemonics (“something (such as a word, a sentence, or a song) that helps people remember something“) designed to assist those who have trouble distinguishing between two similar words. A fair share of these turn out to be for the words stationery and stationary. The most commonly suggested method is to remember that you buy papER at a stationERy store. If this trick does not work for you, then perhaps it will help to remember that a stationery store is one that is run by a stationer. This word was originally applied to a bookseller, but by the middle of the 17th century it began to be used for a person who sells papers, pens, and office goods.

Examples of stationery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Each pivot in their journey, from digital stationery to home goods, and ultimately, to customizable canvas totes, was driven by customer feedback and how design could meet those needs, rather than market trends. Jennifer Lee, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025 Pensacola, Florida — Emily Ley has spent the last 17 years building Simplified, her small stationery business based in Pensacola, Florida. Jo Ling Kent, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2025 The new mom is teaming up with Minted to release her recipe for perfect blueberry muffins, and using the brand's stationery to write handwritten notes to the moms that mean the most in her life. Hannah Sacks, People.com, 15 Apr. 2025 Yes, in 2025 there is no shortage of digital apps, planners and workspaces to render conventional notebooks obsolete – but a quick visit to any stationery store will prove that there's strong support for the physical versions. New Atlas, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stationery

Word History

Etymology

stationer

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stationery was in 1727

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Cite this Entry

“Stationery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stationery. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

stationery

noun
sta·​tio·​nery ˈstā-shə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce stationery (audio)
1
: materials (as paper, pens, and ink) for writing or typing
2
: letter paper usually accompanied with matching envelopes

More from Merriam-Webster on stationery

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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