sedimentary

adjective

sed·​i·​men·​ta·​ry ˌse-də-ˈmen-tə-rē 

-ˈmen-trē

1

: of, relating to, or containing sediment

sedimentary deposits

2

: formed by or from deposits of sediment

sedimentary rock

Examples of sedimentary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These low lying windswept islands are composed of volcanic and sedimentary rock, whilst the soil of the main island is mostly peat. —Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025

Scientists think that in some rocks seen on Mars, these spherules form when groundwater passed through pores in sedimentary rocks. —Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025

In the sprawling dunes of the Badlands in South Dakota, where layers of sedimentary rock have been shaped by millions of years of erosion, a hiker came upon a discovery that stopped them in their tracks. —Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2025

Jadarite is found as white nodules hosted by dolomitic marls and shales deposited within a closed volcano–sedimentary basin. —New Atlas, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sedimentary

• alimentary
• complimentary
• documentary
• parliamentary
• rudimentary
• supplementary
• testamentary
• integumentary
• uncomplimentary
• unparliamentary
• interparliamentary
• metasedimentary

Kids Definition

sedimentary

adjective

sed·​i·​men·​ta·​ry ˌsed-ə-ˈment-ə-rē 

-ˈmen-trē

1

: of, relating to, or containing sediment

2

: formed by or from sediment

sedimentary rock

compare igneous, metamorphic