selden: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal to neutral; slightly literary.
Quick answer
What does “selden” mean?
not often.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
not often; rarely.
Occurring at widely spaced intervals; infrequently. In formal/archaic use, it can also be an adjective meaning 'rare'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Usage might be slightly more frequent in formal British writing, but both varieties use it similarly.
Connotations
Slightly more formal than 'rarely' or 'not often'.
Frequency
Equally comprehensible but less common in casual speech in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “selden” in a Sentence
SELDOM + Verb (mid-position)SELDOM (fronted) + auxiliary/modal + subject + main verb (inversion)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “selden” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- We seldom get such fine weather in November.
American English
- He seldom takes the subway, preferring to drive.
adjective
British English
- (Archaic) A seldom smile crossed his face.
American English
- (Archaic) He paid a seldom visit to the old homestead.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports to indicate rare occurrences, e.g., 'Such failures are seldom observed in our quality checks.'
Academic
Common in formal writing to express infrequency, e.g., 'This phenomenon is seldom addressed in the literature.'
Everyday
Less common in casual speech, but used for emphasis, e.g., 'I seldom eat fast food.'
Technical
Used to describe low-frequency events or states in manuals or specifications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “selden”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “selden”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “selden”
- Using 'seldom' in positive sentences where 'often' is intended (semantic error).
- Incorrect: 'I go seldom there.' Correct: 'I seldom go there.' (word order).
- Forgetting inversion in formal fronted constructions: 'Seldom I have seen' is incorrect; 'Seldom have I seen' is correct.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'seldom' is generally considered slightly more formal or literary than 'rarely', though they are often interchangeable.
Yes, but when 'Seldom' begins a sentence for emphasis, it usually requires inversion of the subject and auxiliary verb (e.g., 'Seldom do we see...').
No, 'seldomly' is considered non-standard. 'Seldom' itself is an adverb, so 'seldomly' is redundant and incorrect.
Their meaning is very similar, but 'hardly ever' is more common in informal spoken English, while 'seldom' is more typical of written and formal English.
not often.
Selden: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsel.dəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsel.dəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Seldom if ever”
- “Few and far between (similar meaning)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SELDOM' as 'SELECT' + 'DOM(inant)' – you SELECT it only on rare, DOMINANT occasions because it's formal.
Conceptual Metaphor
SCARCITY / ABSENCE (A scarce commodity in the landscape of events).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'seldom' correctly?