Sequester

Sequester is a verb with several related meanings that center on setting apart, isolating, or removing something from ordinary contact or use. Etymologically, it comes from Latin sequestrare, meaning to set aside or confiscate.

In law and governance, to sequester can mean to take legal possession of assets to preserve them for a dispute or judgment, or to remove a party or property from normal handling pending proceedings. The term is also used for the practice of keeping a jury isolated from outside influences during a trial to ensure impartiality.

In science and policy, sequestration most often refers to long‑term storage or removal of substances from the active environment. Carbon sequestration, for example, involves capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide and storing it in geological formations, oceans, or biological reservoirs such as forests and soils. Sequestration also describes processes that bind or trap pollutants or nutrients, thereby limiting their mobility or reactivity, frequently using chemical binders or sorption.

In chemistry and biochemistry, sequestration denotes isolating a particular ion or molecule from a mixture by forming a stable complex, which can reduce unwanted reactions or interactions.

In public budgeting, sequestration can refer to automatic or across‑the‑board reductions in spending, a mechanism used to control deficits in some jurisdictions. The exact meaning and application of sequestration vary by legal, scientific, and policy context.