• Today's Word

Sequester

🔊 Listen to the word Sequester

sih-KWES-ter

Definition

(verb) To isolate or remove something—or someone—from others; to set apart.

Example

During the trial, the judge decided to sequester the jury to prevent outside influence.

Word Origin

Sequester comes from the Latin sequestrare, meaning “to surrender something to a trustee” or “to set aside.” Over centuries, the meaning shifted toward isolation and removal—particularly in legal, environmental, and scientific contexts where something is intentionally kept separate.

Fun Fact

In environmental science, carbon sequestration refers to the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide to reduce greenhouse gases. Forests, wetlands, and even certain types of soil act as natural carbon banks, quietly pulling CO₂ out of the atmosphere and locking it away. This idea of “pulling something out of circulation” connects directly back to the core meaning of the word.