Stationary vs Stationery
Published January 25, 2023. Updated January 25, 2023.
Stationary and stationery look similar and are homophones (words that sound the same), but they have different meanings and uses. Stationary is an adjective that describes something that doesn’t move or is incapable of moving. Stationery refers to materials used for writing and the office.
Here are some definitions and examples to help make the use of these words clearer.
Stationary (adjective)
Something that isn’t moving by choice, or something that is incapable of moving.
Examples:
The soldiers remained stationary while their leader barked orders at them.
Do you prefer to ride a normal bicycle outside or a stationary bike at the gym?
Stationery (noun)
Materials like pens, pencils, envelopes, staplers, etc. that are used in the office and/or for writing.
Examples:
I spend way too much money on stationery each month.
When he was younger, he worked at the stationery store.
Main Points
- Stationary and stationery are homophones and are spelled very similarly.
- Stationary is an adjective. It describes something that doesn’t move by choice or is incapable of moving.
Stationery is a noun. It refers to a variety of items like pens, pencils, envelopes, etc., that are used for writing, in the office, etc