How to Pronounce Sedentary

To pronounce "sedentary", say SED-ent-ary — 3 syllables, IPA /ˈsɛd(ə)ntɛɹi/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

sedentary

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.

Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying sedentary, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

Syllables

Letters

/ˈsɛd(ə)ntɛɹi/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “sedentary”

"sedentary" has 3 syllables: sed-ent-ary. It rhymes with extraordinary and contemporary, if that helps it stick.

What does sedentary mean?

noun

A sedentary person

adjective

Not moving; relatively still; staying in the vicinity.
“The oyster is a sedentary mollusk; the barnacles are sedentary crustaceans.”
(of a human population) Living in a fixed geographical location; the opposite of nomadic.

Synonyms

abeyant cessant dormant non-migratory settled immobile motionless torpid

Antonyms

active migratory

Hear “sedentary” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with sedentary

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

extraordinary contemporary contrary sanctuary solitary arbitrary wary ordinary tarry emissary carry ancillary

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "sedentary"?▾

"Sedentary" has 3 syllables: sed · ent · ary.

What is the IPA transcription of "sedentary"?▾

The IPA transcription of "sedentary" is /ˈsɛd(ə)ntɛɹi/.

What does "sedentary" mean?▾

Sedentary: A sedentary person

Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?

Open “sedentary” in the full dictionary →