“Stationary” vs. “Stationery”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “stationary” and “stationery”

  • Stationary describes things that are motionless while stationery describes materials used in writing.
  • Stationary is an adjective while stationery is a noun.
  • The spelling of the two words is different; one has an "a" while the other one has an "e".
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What is the definition of “stationary” and “stationery”?

Stationary
  • Stationary refers to something that is not moving or still.
  • It can also be used to describe a place of work or location where someone is stationed.
  • Examples of stationary objects include buildings, trees, and statues.
Stationery
  • Stationery refers to a writing material such as paper, envelopes, and pens.
  • It is used for writing letters, notes or other written communication.
  • Examples of stationery items are letterheads, envelopes, cards, and notebooks.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Stationary” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Stationary
170,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The car remained stationary at the red light.
  2. The patient's condition was stationary for a week.
  3. The government has imposed a stationary state on flights due to the pandemic.
Stationery
153,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The office ran out of stationery supplies.
  2. My friend gifted me a pack of beautiful stationery for my birthday.
  3. I write my diary daily using my favorite stationery set.
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