seldom

American  

[sel-duhm] / ˈsɛl dəm /

adverb

1. on only a few occasions; rarely; infrequently; not often.

   We seldom see our old neighbors anymore.

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adjective

1. rare; infrequent.

seldom British  

/ ˈsɛldəm /

adverb

1. not often; rarely

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Other Word Forms

• seldomness noun

Etymology

Origin of seldom

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English seldum, variant of seldan; cognate with German selten, Gothic silda-

Example Sentences

He seldom comments on the behavior of the competitors—their outbursts speak for themselves.

From The Wall Street Journal

He seldom refers to coal without the modifiers “clean” and “beautiful.”

From Los Angeles Times

Candidates seldom brought up the military strikes in their last-minute campaign appearances, and voters to whom the BBC spoke on election day listed domestic issues – particularly the economy – as their main concerns.

From BBC

Bombs without boots are seldom primed to have strategic impact.

From The Wall Street Journal

Duvall seldom played leading men, but Mac Sledge, in “Tender Mercies,” was a notable breakthrough.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• a few times
• hardly
• occasionally
• rarely
• scarcely
• sometimes
• sporadically