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abstinence

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abstinence

  • /ˈæb.stɪ.nəns/

Where it comes from

From Middle English abstinence, from Old French abstinence, from Latin abstinentia, from abstinēns, present participle of abstineō (“to withhold”). Equivalent to abstain + -ence.

noun abstinences · abstinency

  1. countable, uncountable The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite. Near-synonyms: abstentiousness, abstemiousness

    Similar: abstention, abstentiousness, abstemiousness

  2. countable, uncountable Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating/alcoholic beverages; total abstinence; teetotalism). For quotations using this term, see Citations:abstinence.

    Similar: abstention, abstentiousness, abstemiousness, temperance

  3. countable, uncountable Specifically, the practice of abstaining from sexual intercourse, either permanently or until marriage. Abstinence is the only 100% guaranteed contraception.

    Similar: abstention, abstentiousness, abstemiousness

  4. countable, uncountable Abstention from certain foods on days of penitential observance. "The church teaching before Vatican II was that it was 'gravely sinful' to take 2 ounces of meat on a day of abstinence such as Friday," said the Rev. Joseph S. Rossi, a Jesuit professor of church history at Loyola College.

    Similar: abstention, abstentiousness, abstemiousness

  5. countable, uncountable The practice of self-denial; self-restraint; forbearance from anything.
  6. countable, obsolete, uncountable Self-denial; abstaining; or forbearance of anything.
  7. countable, uncountable Delay of spending to accrue capital.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: abstention, sobriety, celibacy, refraining, forbearance, withdrawal, pledge, smoking, smoke, self-restraint, continence, temperance, abnegation, teetotalism, self-discipline, nonindulgence

Translations

Every language

noun the act or practice of abstaining

Españolvigilia, abstinencia
Portuguêsabstinência
Françaisabstinence
DeutschEnthaltsamkeit, Abstinenz
Italianoastinenza, astemìa
Ελληνικάεγκράτεια egkráteia
Românăabstinență
Русскийвоздержа́ние vozderžánije

noun specifically, abstinence from alcohol

Españolabstinencia
Portuguêsabstinência
Françaisabstinence
DeutschAbstinenz
Italianoastinenza
Русскийвоздержа́ние vozderžánije, тре́звенность trézvennostʹ, абстине́нция abstinéncija

noun specifically, abstinence from sexual intercourse

Portuguêsabstinência sexual
Françaisabstinence, abstinence sexuelle
DeutschKeuschheit
Italianoastinenza
Русскийвоздержа́ние vozderžánije, абстине́нция abstinéncija

noun the practice of self-denial

Españolvigilia
Portuguêsabstinência
Françaisabstinence
DeutschEnthaltsamkeit
Italianoastinenza

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Cite this
MLA

"abstinence." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/abstinence. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

abstinence. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/abstinence

Chicago

"abstinence." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/abstinence.

BibTeX
@misc{abstinence_2026,
  title = {abstinence},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/abstinence},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}