IELTS Speaking · Vocabulary
sedentary
adjective/ˈsedntri/Band 8
Last updated 21 July 2026
In short
“sedentary” is a Band 8 adjective that means involving little physical activity; spending much time sitting down. Below you'll find its pronunciation, natural example sentences, synonyms and antonyms, and the collocations that help you use it accurately in the IELTS Speaking test.
Meaning
Involving little physical activity; spending much time sitting down.
Example sentences
Natural, spoken examples at the level an examiner rewards.
- “A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of heart disease.”
- “Office work is often highly sedentary.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
inactivedesk-bound
Antonyms
activephysically active
Collocations & common phrases
Word partners that make your usage sound natural — the difference between knowing a word and using it well.
Collocations
sedentary lifestylesedentary jobsedentary behaviour
Common phrases
lead a sedentary lifestyle
How to remember it
'Sed-' relates to 'sit' (as in 'sediment' that settles) — a sedentary person sits a lot.
Related words
Explore more vocabulary
Frequently asked questions
What does “sedentary” mean?
Involving little physical activity; spending much time sitting down.
How do you use “sedentary” in a sentence?
For example: “A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of heart disease.”
What are some synonyms for “sedentary”?
Synonyms include inactive, desk-bound.
Is “sedentary” good vocabulary for IELTS Speaking?
Yes. It is Band 8 vocabulary, and collocations such as sedentary lifestyle, sedentary job, sedentary behaviour help you use it naturally. Reaching for precise, less common words like this is exactly what lifts your Lexical Resource score.
Next step
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