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-

Explanation

If you seldom see your grandmother because she lives far away, you might be grateful for the opportunity to visit her over the summer. Use the adjective seldom to refer to things that don't happen very often. A near synonym is rarely. Seldom is a Middle English word, from Old English seldum, a spelling alteration of seldan "strange, rare." In Old English, the spelling seldum came about by analogy with forms such as Old English hwilum "formerly, at one time," from hwil "time, while."

Example Sentences

Never mind that children seldom have meaningful choice but to comply with caregivers’ demands and may be in therapy not to pursue their goals but due to external pressures.

From Slate • Apr. 3, 2026

Noto has seldom bought stock in recent years.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026

In his seven-figure Olympian existence, we can step out of our solitary pining into an enviable characterization, one that is seldom offered to characters that look and love like us.

From Salon • Feb. 13, 2026

“Those close to the throne are seldom truly close to anyone else. A mortal girl would have even fewer allies.”

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Related Words

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