sequestration
noun
se·ques·tra·tion
ˌsē-kwə-ˈstrā-shən 
ˌse-
ˌse-
(ˌ)sē-ˌkwe-
1
: the act of sequestering : the state of being sequestered
a jury in sequestration
2
a
: 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
Tom RickeyExamples 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
The military also worked with civilian leaders to manage Obama’s deep budget cuts, as well as the even more disruptive limits imposed by the 2013 sequestration.
—Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021
Hydrogen using power from a plant that has recently added carbon capture and sequestration can also qualify.
—Daniel Moore, Axios, 3 Jan. 2025
Today, scientists have discovered a way to boost the sequestration of atmospheric carbon through a new experiment by spraying fine clay particles on microalgae blooms—particularly Rhodomonas salina.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Taxes increased sharply at the beginning of 2013, and a few months later, U.S. government spending tightened because of sequestration.
—Scott Sumner, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2016
See All Example Sentences for sequestration
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Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021
Hydrogen using power from a plant that has recently added carbon capture and sequestration can also qualify.
—Daniel Moore, Axios, 3 Jan. 2025
Today, scientists have discovered a way to boost the sequestration of atmospheric carbon through a new experiment by spraying fine clay particles on microalgae blooms—particularly Rhodomonas salina.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Taxes increased sharply at the beginning of 2013, and a few months later, U.S. government spending tightened because of sequestration.
—Scott Sumner, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2016
See All Example Sentences for sequestration
Cite this Entry
“Sequestration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sequestration. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sequestration
noun
se·ques·tra·tion
ˌsēk-wəs-ˈtrā-shən
ˌsek-
: the act of sequestering : the state of being sequestered
Medical Definition
sequestration
noun
se·ques·tra·tion
ˌsēk-wəs-ˈtrā-shən
ˌsek-
ˌsek-
si-ˌkwes-
1
: the formation of a sequestrum
2
: the process of sequestering or result of being sequestered
Legal Definition
sequestration
noun
se·ques·tra·tion
ˌsē-kwəs-ˈtrā-shən, ˌse-
1
: the act of sequestering : the state of being sequestered
2
a
: 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
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