Dictionary

stationary

adjective sta·tion·ary \ˈstā-shə-ˌner-ē\

: not moving : staying in one place or position

: not changing

Full Definition of STATIONARY

1
:  fixed in a station, course, or mode :  immobile
2
:  unchanging in condition <a stationary population>
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Examples of STATIONARY

  1. 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

Origin of STATIONARY

(see 1station)
First Known Use: 1626

Rhymes with STATIONARY

actuary, adversary, airy-fairy, ancillary, antiquary, apiary, arbitrary, aviary, axillary, bacillary, beriberi, bestiary, biliary, black raspberry, Bloody Mary, boysenberry, breviary, budgetary, calamari, calamary, candleberry, Canterbury, capillary, carpellary, cassowary, catenary, cautionary, cavitary, cemetery, centenary, certiorari, checkerberry, chinaberry, cometary, commentary, commissary, condottiere, coralberry, corollary, coronary, culinary, customary, dictionary, dietary, dignitary, dromedary, dysentery, elderberry, emissary, estuary, farkleberry, February, formulary, fragmentary, fritillary, functionary, funerary, honorary, huckleberry, intermarry, janissary, January, lamasery, lapidary, lectionary, legendary, legionary, lingonberry, literary, loganberry, luminary, mammillary, mandatary, maxillary, medullary, mercenary, miliary, military, millenary, milliary, millinery, missionary, momentary, monastery, mortuary, necessary, ordinary, ossuary, partridgeberry, pensionary, pigmentary, planetary, Pondicherry, prebendary, presbytery, pulmonary, quaternary, red mulberry, reliquary, rowanberry, salivary, salmonberry, salutary, sanctuary, sanguinary, sanitary, secondary, secretary, sedentary, seminary, silverberry, solitary, sour cherry, stationery, statuary, subcontrary, sublunary, sugarberry, sumptuary, syllabary, temporary, tertiary, thimbleberry, Tipperary, Tom and Jerry, topiary, tributary, tutelary, Typhoid Mary, unitary, urinary, vestiary, Virgin Mary, visionary, voluntary, vulnerary, Waterbury, whortleberry, winterberry
STATIONARY Defined for Kids

stationary

adjective sta·tion·ary \ˈstā-shə-ˌner-ē\

Definition of STATIONARY for Kids

1
:  having been set in a certain place or post :  immobile <a stationary bike>
2
:  not changing :  stable <Their weekly income remained stationary.>
Medical Dictionary

stationary

adjective sta·tion·ary \ˈstā-shə-ˌner-ē\

Medical Definition of STATIONARY

1
:  fixed in position :  not moving
2
:  characterized by a lack of change <the patient's condition remained stationary>
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