stationery

noun

sta·​tio·​nery ˈstā-shə-ˌner-ē 

1

: materials (such as paper, pens, and ink) for writing or typing

2

: letter paper usually accompanied with matching envelopes

Did you know?

stationary or stationery?

The Internet is awash with mnemonics (“something (such as a word, a sentence, or a song) that helps people remember something“) designed to assist those who have trouble distinguishing between two similar words. A fair share of these turn out to be for the words stationery and stationary. The most commonly suggested method is to remember that you buy papER at a stationERy store. If this trick does not work for you, then perhaps it will help to remember that a stationery store is one that is run by a stationer. This word was originally applied to a bookseller, but by the middle of the 17th century it began to be used for a person who sells papers, pens, and office goods.

Examples of stationery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Choose from 13 bold envelope colors, like turquoise, hot pink, and lemon, to complete the cheery stationery set. —Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2024

But stationery brand Papier’s luxe holiday advent calendar sold out in quickly last year, and now’s the time to score one for 2024. —Kristen Philipkoski, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024

Since then, Jeannette has built up a collection of clothes, stationery and household products, and has two Hello Kitty tattoos. —Ebony-Renee Baker, refinery29.com, 5 July 2024

Enjoy orders of French toast sticks and avocado toast before strolling the Pedestrian Mall and its range of shops, including local favorites like The Record Collector, women’s resale fixture Revival, and stationery go-to RSVP. —Nicole Schnitzler, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

stationer

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

stationery

noun

sta·​tio·​nery ˈstā-shə-ˌner-ē 

1

: materials (as paper, pens, and ink) for writing or typing

2

: letter paper usually accompanied with matching envelopes