What does infrequency mean?
Infrequency is a formal noun meaning the condition of being rare, uncommon, or occurring only occasionally. It is especially useful when discussing events, phenomena, or practices that happen much less often than expected or observed. Unlike simpler alternatives such as “rarity” or “uncommonness,” “infrequency” can give a measured, technical tone to an analysis, though it remains appropriate in ordinary formal prose. The word is often used in phrases such as “the infrequency of occurrence” and “the infrequency of use.” For example, a writer might explain the infrequency of extreme weather at a particular location without suggesting that such weather is impossible. Infrequency is the noun corresponding to the adjective “infrequent” and the opposite of “frequency.” Its wording can sound deliberate rather than dramatic, making it suitable for academic, journalistic, and analytical contexts.
nounThe state or condition of occurring infrequently; rarity or uncommonness.
- The state of being rare or occurring only occasionally.
"The infrequency of rainfall made the fire especially dangerous."
"The infrequency of such eclipses makes them a special sight for any astronomer."
"Despite the infrequency of these inspections, each one revealed several important problems."
The plural is grammatically regular but uncommon in ordinary usage.
"The report noted the infrequencies of lightning and heavy rain in the region."
Infrequency is frequency's quiet counterpart: a precise word for what happens only rarely.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How infrequency is actually used
A formal or academic word, especially common in writing about events, phenomena, or practices that occur only occasionally. It is often used with “of,” as in “the infrequency of use.”
Easily confused with infrequency
Infrequency is a noun meaning rarity, while infrequent is an adjective meaning not happening often.