temptation

American  

[temp-tay-shuhn] / tɛmpˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

• temptations
  plural

1. the act of tempting; enticement or allurement.

   Synonyms:

   inducement, seduction, pull, attraction, lure

2. something that tempts, entices, or allures.

3. the fact or state of being tempted, especially to evil.

4. an instance of this.

5. (initial capital letter) the temptation of Christ by Satan. Matthew 4.

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temptation British  

/ tɛmpˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of tempting or the state of being tempted

2. a person or thing that tempts

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nontemptation
  noun
• pretemptation
  noun
• supertemptation
  noun
• temptational
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• temptations
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of temptation

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English temptacion, from Latin temptātiōn- (stem of temptātiō ) “a testing”; see tempt, -ation

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Explanation

Temptation is something you want to have or to do, even though you know you shouldn't. That bag of peanut butter cups on top of your fridge might be an example of a temptation. The thing that you want despite knowing it's not good for you — like the cool sneakers you really can't afford — is a temptation. The feeling is also a temptation — so wanting those shoes is temptation. The Latin word temptare, or to taste, is where temptation comes from, which makes a lot of sense when you think of that bag of peanut butter cups calling to you from the kitchen.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

temptation temptations

They experience a brief catharsis, a release of their anxiety about succumbing to temptation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

Faced with quadratic equations, Richard Scott couldn’t resist the temptation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

Is careful use of language a way to at least avoid the temptation of these bots?

From Slate ● Sep. 29, 2026

“The hard part is to avoid the temptation of a beleaguered explanation,” Lundquist says.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026

Herr Doctor Knie argues that Helmuth succumbed to the enemy propaganda because he was too immature to resist the temptation.

From "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

As the frontman of the Killers, Flowers, 45, has spent more than two decades singing about the struggles and the temptations at the heart of the American dream.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

AI poses temptations to isolate, but it can also be shaped to strengthen human bonds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

The beloved Minneapolis bakery is famous for its oversized, gooey cinnamon rolls, but there are plenty of other temptations on display, including caramel pecan buns, sticky buns and seasonal specialties.

From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026

John says that if released prisoners can get past the temptations of the first few days, adjusting to life outside, they'll have a better chance of staying out for longer.

From BBC ● Dec. 10, 2025

Personal character was essential in order to resist public temptations.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

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