sedentary
/'sedntəri/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Characterized by much sitting and little physical activity: Describes a lifestyle, occupation, or behavior that involves prolonged periods of sitting and minimal physical movement or exercise.
- Inactive, stationary: Can describe organisms or things that are fixed in one place or move very little.
Usage and Examples
- Describing a lifestyle or job:
- A sedentary lifestyle can increase the risk of heart disease.
- His work as a programmer is very sedentary.
- Describing a person or behavior:
- After retirement, he became quite sedentary.
- The illness forced her into a sedentary existence.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- In biology/zoology: Used to describe animals that are not migratory or are fixed in one place.
- The barnacle is a sedentary marine organism.
- Formal/Medical Context: Often used in health advisories to warn about the dangers of inactivity.
- Public health campaigns aim to reduce sedentary behavior in children.
Variants and Related Words
- Sedentariness (noun): The quality or state of being sedentary.
- The sedentariness of modern office work is a concern.
- Sedentarize (verb, rare): To cause to adopt a sedentary lifestyle.
- Non-sedentary / Active (antonyms): Characterized by much movement.
Synonyms
- Inactive
- Stationary
- Settled
- Motionless (in specific contexts)
Antonyms
- Active
- Mobile
- Nomadic
- Peripatetic
Common Collocations and Phrases
- Sedentary lifestyle: The most common phrase, referring to a way of life with little physical activity.
- Sedentary work/job: Employment that primarily involves sitting.
- Sedentary behavior: Specific actions that involve low energy expenditure while sitting or lying down.
Adjective
- requiring sitting or little activity
- forced by illness to lead a sedentary life