sequester

verb se·ques·ter \ si-ˈkwe-stər \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of sequester

sequestered; sequestering play \si-ˈkwe-st(ə-)riŋ\

transitive verb

1 a :to set apart :segregate

sequester a jury

b :seclude, withdraw

widely spaced homes are forbiddingly grand and sequestered
—Don 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

See sequester defined for English-language learners

See sequester defined for kids

Examples of sequester in a Sentence

The jury was sequestered until a verdict was reached.
He was sequestered in his room.

Recent Examples of sequester from the Web

The jury in Cosby’s first trial came from the Pittsburgh area and spent two weeks in June sequestered 300 miles (483 kilometers) from home.

— michael r. sisak, The Seattle Times, "Cosby’s retrial delayed as new legal team joins case," 22 Aug. 2017
So in theory, a dark-colored animal could use melanin to sequester these toxins, and even slough them off with its skin.

— patrick monahan, Science | AAAS, "Dark skin lets sea snakes slough off pollution," 10 Aug. 2017
Those people must be in witness protection, sequestered away from the SEC Network.

— ron higgins, NOLA.com, "Alabama's 'Don't waste a failure' mantra should frighten SEC foes," 12 July 2017
But after rising up again and again, the people of Tenochtitlan ultimately fell, weakened by the superior weapons of the Spanish and a smallpox epidemic, until eventually they were sequestered by Spanish forces and their allies.

— erin blakemore, Smithsonian, "Mexico City Dig Uncovers Traces of Aztec Resistance to Spain," 7 July 2017
The last time transportation negotiations took place, in 2015, a group of eight lawmakers sequestered themselves behind closed doors to hammer out a deal that ultimately failed without a vote.

— gordon r. friedman, OregonLive.com, "Lawmakers to finally vote on massive road-fixes bill after 2 years of talks," 1 July 2017
The division in the small room, combined with being sequestered, Dugan says, led to a moment during the fifth day of deliberations where at least four jurors were brought to tears and another left to pace outside the room.

— dee lockett, The Cut, "Bill Cosby Juror: Lack of ‘Substantial Evidence’ Prevented a Verdict," 26 June 2017
The public and media were allowed to be present late afternoon Tuesday, when Ghiz sent jurors to the hotel where they are being sequestered.

— kevin grasha and bob strickley, Cincinnati.com, "Ray Tensing retrial jury still deliberating," 22 June 2017
Conen has imposed strict rules for the trial and ordered the jury sequestered, a rare precaution in Milwaukee County.

— bruce vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Jury finds ex-cop not guilty in fatal Sherman Park shooting that sparked violent unrest," 21 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sequester.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of sequester

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

sequester Synonyms

Synonyms

cut off, insulate, seclude, segregate, separate, isolate

Antonyms

desegregate, integrate, reintegrate

Related Words

quarantine; confine, immure, incarcerate, intern, jail, lock (up), restrain, restrict; abstract, detach, disengage, remove; detain, hold, keep

Near Antonyms

assimilate, associate, connect, join, link, unite; discharge, free, liberate, loose, release

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

sequester

noun

Definition of sequester

1 obsolete :separation, isolation

2 :the imposition of automatic government spending reductions in accordance with sequestration

Recent Examples of sequester from the Web

And the extent to which the earth can provide habitats for plants and animals, sequester atmospheric carbon and regulate the flow of freshwater depends on the vastness of the least affected regions.

— jason g. goldman, Scientific American, "Acreage of Pristine Landscapes Declined Significantly So Far This Century," 26 June 2017
The current version grew out of the 2013 federal budget standoff and sequester, which saw furloughs of air traffic controllers and the near shutdown of 149 smaller air traffic control towers.

— robert poole, Orange County Register, "Time to get U.S. air traffic control out of the 1960s," 9 June 2017
Defense hawks in the House have already launched an effort to persuade GOP leaders to attempt to repeal the defense spending caps that were set in the 2011 Budget Control Act, also known as the sequester.

— kelsey snell, Washington Post, "House votes to approve roughly $1.1 trillion spending bill to keep government funded through September," 3 May 2017
Trump’s budget claims to be restoring the Department of Defense from the devastating impacts of the Budget Control Act of 2011, also known as the sequester.

— the denver post editorial board, The Denver Post, "Democrats and Republicans should reject Trump’s irresponsible budget," 16 Mar. 2017
Trump is reportedly seeking $54 billion over the sequester caps imposed by the 2011 Budget Control Act, which would bring 2018 defense spending to $603 billion.

— michèle flournoy, The Denver Post, "Trump is right to spend more on defense; here’s how to do so wisely," 3 Mar. 2017
Mr. Trump’s call for ending the sequester on military spending is unlikely to gain traction in Washington.

— ashley parker and matthew rosenberg, New York Times, "Donald Trump Vows to Bolster Nation’s Military Capacities," 7 Sep. 2016

First Known Use of sequester

1604

SEQUESTER Defined for English Language Learners

sequester

verb

Definition of sequester for English Language Learners

: to keep (a person or group) apart from other people
law : to take (property) until a debt has been paid

Medical Dictionary

sequester

transitive verb se·ques·ter \ si-ˈkwes-tər \

medical Definition of sequester

:to hold (as a metallic ion) in solution especially for the purpose of suppressing undesired chemical or biological activity

sequester

noun

medical Definition of sequester

:sequestrum

Law Dictionary

sequester

transitive verb se·ques·ter \ si-ˈkwes-tər \

legal Definition of sequester

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

Origin and Etymology of sequester

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