sedge: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Technical (Botany, Ecology, Nature Writing)
Quick answer
What does “sedge” mean?
A grass-like marsh plant of the family Cyperaceae, typically with solid triangular stems.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A grass-like marsh plant of the family Cyperaceae, typically with solid triangular stems.
A habitat, area, or ecosystem dominated by these plants, or the plants collectively.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally botanical in both varieties.
Connotations
Associated with damp, wild, natural landscapes (e.g., fens, marshes, lake margins).
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialised in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “sedge” in a Sentence
[ADJ] sedgesedge [of PLACE]sedge [and NOUN]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sedge” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The land was sedged over after the floods.
American English
- The wetland is slowly sedging in.
adjective
British English
- The sedge-covered fen was alive with birds.
American English
- We studied the sedge-dominated ecosystem.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in botany, ecology, environmental science, and geography papers.
Everyday
Rare, except in specific contexts like birdwatching (sedge warbler) or detailed nature descriptions.
Technical
The standard term for plants of the family Cyperaceae; precise identification is important in habitat classification.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sedge”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sedge”
- Using it as a general term for grass.
- Misspelling as 'sege' or 'seg'.
- Confusing it with 'edge'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is botanically distinct. Grasses (Poaceae) typically have hollow, round stems, while sedges (Cyperaceae) have solid, triangular stems.
A common botanical mnemonic is: "Sedges have edges, rushes are round, grasses have nodes from the top to the ground."
Very rarely. In highly specialised or poetic contexts, it can mean to become overgrown with sedge, but the noun form is overwhelmingly standard.
Only by habitat. The bird is named for its preference for nesting and feeding in sedge-dominated wetlands.
A grass-like marsh plant of the family Cyperaceae, typically with solid triangular stems.
Sedge is usually formal/technical (botany, ecology, nature writing) in register.
Sedge: in British English it is pronounced /sedʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /sedʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the EDGE of a marshy SEa where SEDGE grows.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEDGE IS A WETLAND SENTINEL (guarding the margins of water).
Practice
Quiz
In which habitat are you MOST likely to find sedge?