sequester

1 of 2

verb

se·​ques·​ter si-ˈkwe-stər How to pronounce sequester (audio)
sequestered; sequestering si-ˈkwe-st(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce sequester (audio)

transitive verb

1
a
: to set apart : segregate
sequester a jury
b
: seclude, withdraw
widely spaced homes are forbiddingly grand and sequesteredDon Asher
2
a
: to seize especially by a writ of sequestration
b
: to place (property) in custody especially in sequestration
3
: to bind (a metal or metal ion) in the form of a soluble complex or chelate by adding a suitable reagent for the purpose of preventing precipitation in water solution by chemical agents that would normally bring it about, of solubilizing precipitates already formed, or of otherwise suppressing undesired chemical or biological activity
sequester calcium and magnesium ions in the softening of hard water
also : to bind or absorb (carbon dioxide) as part of a larger chemical process or compound
… half of the starting material will be used up and half will be char. That can then be put back on the fields, where it will sequester carbon and help grow the next crop. Emma Marris

sequester

2 of 2

noun

1
: the imposition of automatic government spending reductions in accordance with sequestration
2
obsolete : separation, isolation

Did you know?

Sequester first appeared in English in the 14th century. The word derives from Latin sequestrare ("to hand over to a trustee") and ultimately from secus ("beside," "otherwise"), which is akin to Latin sequi ("to follow"). In this relationship, we can trace links to words such as sequel, sequence, consequence, and subsequent, all of which convey a meaning of one thing following another. These days, we most frequently hear sequester used in legal contexts, as juries are sometimes sequestered for the safety of their members or to prevent the influence of outside sources on a verdict. In a different sense, it is possible to sequester property in certain legal situations.

Examples of sequester in a Sentence

Verb The jury was sequestered until a verdict was reached. He was sequestered in his room.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
If azolla is added to fields as fertilizer, some of that carbon is sequestered in the ground. Matt Simon, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024 Those votes are sequestered until the measure is approved by the courts, even if that happens after the election. Sophia Tareen, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024 That’s in addition to being abundant and fast growing, with the potential to sequester up to 20 times more carbon per acre than trees. Jeff Kart, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The teams are sequestered about 20 miles east along the shores of Lake Las Vegas, an artificial lake lined with faux-terra cotta resorts. Billy Witz Sinna Nasseri, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2024 There are thousands upon thousands of phytoplankton species—some that act as food for tiny animals known as zooplankton, others that are highly toxic, some that sequester carbon better than others. Matt Simon, WIRED, 8 Feb. 2024 Because players are sequestered in hotels, away from their families, the tournament gives them time to bond. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2024 By her calculations, even an area the size of London could grow enough seaweed to sequester ten megatons of carbon dioxide per year. Saima May Sidik, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Jan. 2024 At the end of the talent show — hosted by returning season 8 and All Stars 5 queen Derrick Barry in drag as Britney Spears — each queen was sequestered in front of a large TV screen and asked to rank their competitors (not unlike the technology seen on Netflix's The Circle). Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 5 Jan. 2024
Noun
Without a proposal or other congressional action, automatic sequester cuts — an idea first introduced by Gramm-Rudman-Hollings — would kick in. Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 9 May 2023 The beds reduce coastal erosion and ocean acidification, sequester carbon and provide habitat for commercially, recreationally and ecologically important marine life, according to experts. Krissy Waite, The Mercury News, 1 Jan. 2024 Undisturbed soils sequester a great deal of carbon. Kate Brown, Washington Post, 26 June 2023 For example, cells in our bodies sequester iron as part of the immune response to some infections. Nicholas Kassebaum, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2023 Its 50 native plant species not only sequester carbon and cool the air, but also support insects, a crucial part of the local ecosystem, says Amy Mertl, an entomologist at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Jingnan Peng, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Sep. 2023 Budget cuts on discretionary spending from the sequester ultimately took effect in March 2013 and expired at the end of the federal government’s 2021 fiscal year. Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 9 May 2023 Wagner has been moving his vineyards toward regenerative farming, which includes cover crops between the vine rows to help strengthen the soil and sequester carbon. Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 6 July 2023 Currently operational carbon capture projects sequester 44 million metric tons of CO2 per year, 0.12% percent of total emissions—and a number that the IEA does not expect will increase before 2030. Aurora Almendral, Quartz, 24 May 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English sequestren, from Anglo-French sequestrer, from Latin sequestrare to hand over to a trustee, from sequester third party to whom disputed property is entrusted, agent, from secus beside, otherwise; akin to Latin sequi to follow

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of sequester was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near sequester

Cite this Entry

“Sequester.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sequester. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sequester

verb
se·​ques·​ter
si-ˈkwes-tər
sequestered; sequestering
-t(ə-)riŋ
1
: to set apart : segregate
the jury was sequestered until a verdict was reached
2
: to take custody of (as personal property) until a demand is satisfied

Medical Definition

sequester

1 of 2 transitive verb
se·​ques·​ter si-ˈkwes-tər How to pronounce sequester (audio)
: to hold (as a metallic ion) in solution especially for the purpose of suppressing undesired chemical or biological activity

sequester

2 of 2 noun

Legal Definition

sequester

1 of 2 transitive verb
se·​ques·​ter si-ˈkwes-tər How to pronounce sequester (audio)
sequestered; sequestering
1
: to place (as a jury or witness) in seclusion or isolation

Note: Juries are sequestered in order to preserve their impartiality. Witnesses are sequestered so that their testimony is not influenced by the testimony of prior witnesses.

2
a
: to seize especially by a writ of sequestration
b
: to deposit (property) in sequestration

sequester

2 of 2 noun
Etymology

Transitive verb

Anglo-French sequestrer, from Middle French, from Latin sequestrare to hand over to a trustee, from sequester third party to whom disputed property is entrusted, agent, from secus beside, otherwise

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