infrequent

[in-free-kwuh nt]

See more synonyms for infrequent on Thesaurus.com

adjective

happening or occurring at long intervals or rarely: infrequent visits.
not constant, habitual, or regular: an infrequent visitor.
not plentiful or many: infrequent opportunities for advancement.

far apart in space.

Origin of infrequent

First recorded in 1525–35, infrequent is from the Latin word infrequent- (stem of infrequēns). See in-³, frequent

Related formsin·fre·quent·ly, adverb

Synonyms

See more synonyms for infrequent on Thesaurus.com

1, 3. scarce, rare, uncommon.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for infrequent

Contemporary Examples

My period is light and infrequent, no cramps, no weight gain, no pregnancy, no problem.
Birth Control Made My Hair Fall Out, and I’m Not the Only One
Molly Oswaks
October 14, 2014
Her appearances are infrequent enough so that they soon become the most exciting part of the game.
Inside ‘Kim Kardashian: Hollywood’: The Reality Star’s Aspirational App and Vainest Project Yet
Frances McInnis
June 23, 2014
We know that failure of justice is not infrequent; it just never had such a cringeworthy label.
No, Affluenza Is Not a Real Thing
Dr. Michelle K. London
December 16, 2013
Those sorts of encounters between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs are far too infrequent.
Leaving the Settlements
Samuel Lebens
May 6, 2013
I make an exception for waffle irons and similar things that do an important, but infrequent job.
The 2012 Holiday Kitchen Gift Guide
Megan McArdle
December 13, 2012

Historical Examples

Such "datives of manner or respect" are not infrequent with adj.
Beowulf
Unknown
So altogether effective a weapon should never rust from infrequent use!
Meadow Grass
Alice Brown
Of the infrequent visitors who came thither, none knelt or prayed.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
I had become a not infrequent visitor to the Level of the Free Women.
City of Endless Night
Milo Hastings
Still, their friendship got no further than these infrequent visits.
The Fat and the Thin
Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for infrequent

infrequent

adjective

rarely happening or present; only occasional

Derived Formsinfrequency or infrequence, nouninfrequently, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for infrequent

adj.

1530s, from Latin infrequentem (nominative infrequens) "occurring seldom, unusual," from in- "not" (see in- (1)) + frequens (see frequent). Related: Infrequently.

infrequent

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}infrequent

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for infrequent

Contemporary Examples

My period is light and infrequent, no cramps, no weight gain, no pregnancy, no problem.

Her appearances are infrequent enough so that they soon become the most exciting part of the game.

We know that failure of justice is not infrequent; it just never had such a cringeworthy label.

Those sorts of encounters between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs are far too infrequent.

I make an exception for waffle irons and similar things that do an important, but infrequent job.

Historical Examples

Such "datives of manner or respect" are not infrequent with adj.

So altogether effective a weapon should never rust from infrequent use!

Of the infrequent visitors who came thither, none knelt or prayed.

I had become a not infrequent visitor to the Level of the Free Women.

Still, their friendship got no further than these infrequent visits.

infrequent

Word Origin and History for infrequent

adj.

Origin of infrequent