sedge

1 of 2

noun

ˈsej How to pronounce sedge (audio)
: any of a family (Cyperaceae, the sedge family) of usually tufted monocotyledonous marsh plants differing from the related grasses in having achenes and solid stems
especially : any of a cosmopolitan genus (Carex)
sedgy
ˈse-jē How to pronounce sedge (audio)
adjective

sedgy

2 of 2

adjective

ˈsejē How to pronounce sedgy (audio)
-er/-est
1
: of, relating to, or like sedge
2
: overgrown or bordered with sedge
drainage and steam power have turned sedgy marshes into farm and meadow—J. R. Green

Examples of sedge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Some small plants that do well in shallow water are dwarf water lilies, water forget-me-nots, water mint, and dwarf sedge varieties. — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Aug. 2026 Garden Path Combo Along a stone path, Erin plants an eye-catching combo of blue spruce, purple ajuga, sedges, and copper coral bells. — Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 12 Aug. 2026 About 60,000 acres of the swamp are shallow, watery prairies covered with grass, sedges and other aquatic plants rooted in thick beds of peat. — Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 25 July 2026 For centuries, this was a world of reeds, sedge, eels, wildfowl, mist, and danger. — Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sedge

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English segge, from Old English secg; akin to Middle High German segge sedge, Old English sagu saw

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sedge was before the 12th century

Rhymes for sedge

See All Rhymes for sedge

Browse Nearby Words

sederunt
sedge
sedge family
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sedge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sedge. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sedge

noun
ˈsej How to pronounce sedge (audio)
: any of a family of plants of marshy areas that are related to the grasses and have solid often three-sided stems

More from Merriam-Webster on sedge

Nglish: Translation of sedge for Spanish Speakers

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