sediment

1 of 2

noun

sed·​i·​ment ˈse-də-mənt How to pronounce sediment (audio)
Synonyms of sedimentnext
1
: the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid
2
: material deposited by water, wind, or glaciers

sediment

2 of 2

verb

sed·​i·​ment ˈse-də-ˌment How to pronounce sediment (audio)
sedimented; sedimenting; sediments

transitive verb

: to deposit as sediment

intransitive verb

1
: to settle to the bottom in a liquid
2
: to deposit sediment

Synonyms of sediment

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Noun

Verb

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Examples of sediment in a Sentence

Noun There was a layer of sediment in the bottom of the tank. the sediment at the bottom of the river needs to be routinely dredged so that it doesn't interfere with barge traffic Verb the water flowing into the reservoir is sedimenting silt faster than was originally expected
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
Unlike Lake Michigan, debris and garbage settle along the riverbed and near the banks, forcing divers to search through sediment and obstacles while currents continue to move beneath the surface. — Darius Johnson, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 Using mechanisms scientists are still trying to understand, the cilia wave around to generate fast-moving vortices of water that circulate oxygen to the coral’s outer tissues, in addition to helping keep the colonies free of sediment. — Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
It’s really sedimented and entangled. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 10 June 2026 The team observed the octopuses launch objects and sediment several body lengths away. — Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Sep. 2021 See All Example Sentences for sediment

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin sedimentum settling, from sedēre to sit, sink down

First Known Use

Noun

1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1859, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of sediment was in 1547

Rhymes for sediment

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Browse Nearby Words

sedilia
sediment
sedimentable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sediment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sediment. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sediment

noun
sed·​i·​ment
ˈsed-ə-mənt
1
: the material from a liquid that settles to the bottom
2
: material (as stones and sand) deposited by water, wind, or glaciers
sediment
-ˌment
verb

Medical Definition

sediment

1 of 2 noun
sed·​i·​ment ˈsed-ə-mənt How to pronounce sediment (audio)
: the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid

sediment

2 of 2 transitive verb
sed·​i·​ment -ˌment How to pronounce sediment (audio)
: to deposit as sediment
the synaptosomes were sedimented by centrifugation

intransitive verb

1
: to settle to the bottom in a liquid
let the red blood cells sediment for 30 minutes
2
: to deposit sediment

More from Merriam-Webster on sediment

Nglish: Translation of sediment for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sediment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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