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

Critics, seldom experts in interlinguistic transfer, will complain of translation’s infidelity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

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

If arrested, they are seldom allowed to return home to their families anymore.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

Noto has seldom bought stock in recent years.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

I suppose it is to Caroline’s credit that she seldom sulked about this deprivation.

From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson

Related Words

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