The regiospecific potential for the reductive dechlorination of 2-, 3-, 4-, 2, 3-, 2, 4-, and 3, 4-chlorophenols (CPs) was studied in mono- and di-CP(DCP) adapted sediment slurries(10% solids). Freshwater sediments adapted to transform 2-CP dechlorinated all tested mono- and di-CPs except 4-CP without a lag period. Adaptation to 2-CP, thus, enhanced the onset of dechlorination of 3-CP and all ortho-substituted CPs tested. Sediment adapted to transform 3-CP dechlorinated all test CPs, except 4-CP and 2, 4-DCP, without a lag period. Sediment adapted to individual DCPs (2, 3-, 2, 4-, and 3, 4-DCP_ exhibited dechlorination(no lag phase) of 2-CP, 2, 3-, 2, 4-, and 3, 4-CDP. Interestingly, meta-cleavage of 3, 4-DCP in all tested adapted sediment occurred, while para-cleavage occurred in 3, 4-DCP adapted sediment. Sediment adapted to dechlorinate ortho and meta-chlorines exhibited a preference for meta following ortho-cleavage, but not for para-cleavage, while the preference for reductive dechlorination was ortho>meta>para for mono-CPs and ortho>para>meta for DCPs in unadapted freshwater anoxic sediments.