stationary [stey-shuh-ner-ee] Word Origin adjective
- standing still; not moving.
- having a fixed position; not movable.
- established in one place; not itinerant or migratory.
- remaining in the same condition or state; not changing: The market price has remained stationary for a week.
- geostationary.
noun, plural sta·tion·ar·ies.
- a person or thing that is stationary.
Origin of stationary First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Latin word statiōnārius. See station, -ary Related formsnon·sta·tion·ar·y, adjective, noun, plural non·sta·tion·ar·ies.qua·si-sta·tion·ar·y, adjectiveun·sta·tion·ar·y, adjectiveCan be confusedstationary stationery British Dictionary definitions for quasi-stationary stationary adjective
- not moving; standing still
- not able to be moved
- showing no changethe doctors said his condition was stationary
- tending to remain in one place
Derived Formsstationarily, adverbstationariness, nounWord Origin for stationary C15: from Latin statiōnārius, from statiō station confusable Avoid confusion with stationery Word Origin and History for quasi-stationary stationary adj.
late 14c., in relation to planetary motions, from Latin stationarius, in classical Latin, “of a military station,” from statio (see station).