sequester

/sɪˈkwɛs.tə/

//sɪˈkwɛs.tə// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"sequester" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“sequester” is an uncommon English word, ranked #50,797 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#50,797
frequency rank, English
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To separate from all external influence; to seclude; to withdraw.

Key facts for sequester
PropertyValue
Headwordsequester
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/sɪˈkwɛs.tə/
Letters9
Frequency rank#50,797
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “sequester” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). sequester lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for sequester is 9 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /sɪˈkwɛs.tə/. Corpus data places it at rank #50,797 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 10 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for sequester, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English sequestren (verb) and sequestre (noun), from Old French sequestrer, from Late Latin sequestrō (“separate, give up for safekeeping”), from Latin sequester (“mediator, depositary”), probably originally meaning "follower", from Proto-Indo-E… The correct English form is sequester, spelled S-E-Q-U-E-S-T-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    To separate from all external influence; to seclude; to withdraw.
  2. 2
    To separate in order to store.
  3. 3
    To set apart; to put aside; to remove; to separate from other things.
  4. 4
    To prevent an ion in solution from behaving normally by forming a coordination compound.
  5. 5
    To temporarily remove (property) from the possession of its owner and hold it as security against legal claims.
  6. 6
    To cause (one) to submit to the process of sequestration; to deprive (one) of one's estate, property, etc.
  7. 7
    To remove (certain funds) automatically from a budget.
  8. 8
    To seize and hold enemy property.
  9. 9
    To withdraw; to retire.
  10. 10
    To renounce (as a widow may) any concern with the estate of her husband.

Etymology

From Middle English sequestren (verb) and sequestre (noun), from Old French sequestrer, from Late Latin sequestrō (“separate, give up for safekeeping”), from Latin sequester (“mediator, depositary”), probably originally meaning "follower", from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (“follow”).

Synonyms

segregate

This word in other languages

separar(Español)séquestrer(Français)absondern(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "sequester"?
"sequester" is spelled S-E-Q-U-E-S-T-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /sɪˈkwɛs.tə/.
What does "sequester" mean?
As a verb, "sequester" means: To separate from all external influence; to seclude; to withdraw.
How do you pronounce "sequester"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "sequester" is /sɪˈkwɛs.tə/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "sequester"?
From Middle English sequestren (verb) and sequestre (noun), from Old French sequestrer, from Late Latin sequestrō (“separate, give up for safekeeping”), from Latin sequester (“mediator, depositary”), probably originally meaning "follower", from Pr... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “sequester”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is S-E-Q-U-E-S-T-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /sɪˈkwɛs.tə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list