stationary

adjective

sta·​tion·​ary ˈstā-shə-ˌner-ē 

1

: fixed in a station, course, or mode : immobile

2

: unchanging in condition

a stationary population

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.

Synonyms of stationary

• static
• motionless
• immobile
• standing

Examples of stationary in a Sentence

Einstein imagined a beam of light piercing the elevator. If the elevator were rising relative to the source of light, the beam would enter at a certain height on one side of the elevator and appear to curve on its way to a lower height on the opposite wall. Einstein then imagined that the elevator were stationary on the surface of the earth. Since he postulated that the two circumstances are the same, Einstein concluded that the same effect would have to hold true for both. In other words, gravity must bend light. —Smithsonian, June 2005

By pushing the keys with the side of his fist and pushing foot pedals, the player transfers mechanical force to clappers, which strike the stationary bells, which are tuned to specific notes. —Douglas Martin, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2003

And while atomic reactors and chemical storage facilities are the sort of stationary targets that invite bombing, bioweapons laboratory materials are small enough to be put in a truck and moved to another location. —Gregg Easterbrook, New Republic, 25 Feb. 2002

The weather front has remained stationary over the Southeast.

a stationary bicycle is good for exercise, but you won't enjoy the scenery very much

Recent Examples on the Web

Unfortunately, a particle returning from a ballistic flight is moving fast while its stationary twin is not. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026

One parallel is how both goalkeepers roll their foot on the ball, keeping it stationary and waiting for the opponent’s forward to press. — Aston Villa, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Their images, as much as those from stationary TV cameras or professional photographers, became our window onto the calamity. — David Friend, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026

Both the hexagon and decagon sit on jet streams, but the hexagon is practically stationary whereas the decagon migrates eastward at a tame 6 mph (10 kph). — Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see station entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stationary

• stationary bicycle
• stationary front
• stationary wave

Rhymes for stationary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• apiary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• bacillary
• beriberi
• bestiary
• breviary
• budgetary

Kids Definition

stationary

adjective

sta·​tion·​ary ˈstā-shə-ˌner-ē 

1

: fixed in a station, course, or position : immobile

a stationary loudspeaker

2

: unchanging in condition

a stationary population

Medical Definition

stationary

adjective

sta·​tion·​ary ˈstā-shə-ˌner-ē 

1

: fixed in position : not moving

2

: characterized by a lack of change

the patient's condition remained stationary