1 sequestration | Definition of sequestration
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

sequestration

noun
se·​ques·​tra·​tion | \ ˌsē-kwə-ˈstrā-shən How to pronounce sequestration (audio) , ˌse-; (ˌ)sē-ˌkwe-\

Definition of sequestration

1 : the act of sequestering : the state of being sequestered a jury in sequestration
2a : a legal writ authorizing a sheriff or commissioner to take into custody the property of a defendant who is in contempt until the orders of a court are complied with
b : a deposit whereby a neutral depositary agrees to hold property in litigation and to restore it to the party to whom it is adjudged to belong
3 : the practice of imposing automatic government spending reductions by withholding appropriations by a fixed percentage that applies uniformly to all government programs except those exempted
4 : the process of sequestering something or the result of being sequestered While the idea is a shift from traditional thinking on dealing with the greenhouse effect, carbon sequestration has been going on in nature for millennia in oceans and vegetation.— Tom Rickey
Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about sequestration

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of sequestration in a Sentence

the sequestration of a jury During their sequestration, jurors were not allowed to speak to reporters.

Recent Examples on the Web

 In our college town there have been enough conferences on renewable energy, soil carbon sequestration, regenerative agriculture, and green economy ideas to wallpaper the entire town with event flyers. — Teen Vogue, "Greta Thunberg Has Already Changed the United States for the Better for Teen Climate Activists Like Us," 29 Aug. 2019 The town hall meeting drew voter questions that ranged from carbon-sequestration technology to vegetarianism to Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. — Joshua Miller, BostonGlobe.com, "In Framingham, voters are split on the prospect of a Joe Kennedy run against Ed Markey," 21 Aug. 2019 In addition, sequestration, the automatic spending cuts enacted by Congress in 2013, hit Dulles harder than the region’s other airports. — Washington Post, "After years-long slump, Dulles International Airport bounces back," 17 Aug. 2019 Conservatives and budget hawks immediately grumbled about new spending and the elimination of the 2011 caps known as sequestration, an effort to limit federal spending. — Los Angeles Times, "In forging a budget deal, Pelosi found a Trump official she can work with," 2 Aug. 2019 As Congress failed to adequately cut spending, sequestration was automatically triggered in 2013, with annual budget caps through 2021. — Grace Segers, CBS News, "Trump signs budget deal and suspends debt ceiling until 2021," 2 Aug. 2019 The government otherwise would face a potential debt default, an Oct. 1 shutdown deadline, and the return in January of across-the-board spending cuts known as sequestration. — Andrew Taylor, chicagotribune.com, "GOP-held Senate faces tough vote ahead on Trump-supported budget bill that would increase debt by $2 trillion," 31 July 2019 The government otherwise would face a potential debt default, an Oct. 1 shutdown deadline, and the return in January of across-the-board spending cuts known as sequestration. — Washington Post, "Republicans face tough vote on budget bill Trump supports," 31 July 2019 Two people with direct knowledge confirmed that McConnell delivered that message in a June phone call about budget sequestration. — Anchorage Daily News, "Mulvaney builds ‘an empire for the right wing’ as Trump’s chief of staff," 15 July 2019

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

See More

First Known Use of sequestration

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for sequestration

sequestration

noun
How to pronounce sequestration (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of sequestration

US : the act of keeping a person or group apart from other people or the state of being kept apart from other people
chiefly British, law : the act of taking someone's property until a debt has been paid

See the full definition for sequestration in the English Language Learners Dictionary

sequestration

noun
se·​ques·​tra·​tion | \ ˌsēk-wəs-ˈtrā-shən How to pronounce sequestration (audio) , ˌsek- How to pronounce sequestration (audio) , si-ˌkwes-\

Medical Definition of sequestration

1 : the formation of a sequestrum
2 : the process of sequestering or result of being sequestered

sequestration

noun
se·​ques·​tra·​tion | \ ˌsē-kwəs-ˈtrā-shən, ˌse- How to pronounce sequestration (audio) \

Legal Definition of sequestration

1 : the act of sequestering : the state of being sequestered
2a : a writ authorizing an official (as a sheriff) to take into custody the property of a defendant usually to enforce a court order, to exercise quasi in rem jurisdiction, or to preserve the property until judgment is rendered
b in the civil law of Louisiana : a deposit in which a neutral person agrees to hold property in dispute and to restore it to the party to whom it is determined to belong
3 : the cancellation of funds for expenditure or obligation in order to enforce federal budget limitations set by law

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on sequestration

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with sequestration

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sequestration

Nglish: Translation of sequestration for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of sequestration for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sequestration

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!