seldom

UK: /ˈsɛldəm/ US: /ˈsɛldəm/ ,(sel′dəm)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

sel•dom /ˈsɛldəm/   adv. 

1. rarely;
   infrequently;
   not often:
   We seldom see them anymore.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

sel•dom  (sel′dəm), adv. 

1. on only a few occasions;
   rarely;
   infrequently;
   not often:
   We seldom see our old neighbors anymore.

adj. 

2. rare;
   infrequent.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English seldum, variant of seldan; cognate with German selten, Gothic silda-

sel′dom•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

seldom / ˈsɛldəm/ adverb

1. not often; rarely
   Also (obsolete): seldomly

Etymology: Old English seldon; related to Old Norse sjāldan, Old High German seltan