stationery

noun

sta·tio·nery ˈstā-shə-ˌner-ē

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

: 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 There’s clothing and accessories like sunglasses and shoes, options for babies and toddlers, and stationery, wallpaper, bedding, beach towels, and pool floats. —

Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, 6 Sep. 2023 Involve the kids by going through their stationery and craft supplies. —

Gemma Johnstone, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2023 Fraudsters are going as far as sending offer letters on corporate stationery and setting up onboarding sessions with someone posing as HR. —

Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2023 Semantics Paper Goods When: Opened Aug. 12 Where: 111 E 16th St., Suite 103 What: A stationery shop is open in the Penn Arts Building after previously selling online only. —

Claire Rafford, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Sep. 2023 King Charles Surpasses Reign Length of Great-Uncle King Edward, Who Abdicated to Marry Wallis Simpson On Monday, a message from the King hit Twitter on what appeared to be new stationery. —

Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 14 Aug. 2023 The good thing is, there are many options for great eco-friendly stationery. —

Neeti Mehra, Treehugger, 8 Aug. 2023 Visitors also could observe a blacksmith at work or see what a sutler (civilian merchant) might offer a Civil War soldier: items such as stationery, replacement cutlery, or tobacco. —

Baltimore Sun, 23 June 2023 Though not considered in legislative session and not listed on the Legislature’s website, the proclamation holds an official stature: It was issued on Senate stationery and stamped with the Tennessee state seal. —

Daniel Feller, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stationery.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.