abstinence

American  

[ab-stuh-nuhns] / ˈæb stə nəns /

Also abstinency

noun

1. forbearance, especially habitual forbearance as a lifestyle choice, from any indulgence of a particular appetite, such as from sex or from the use of alcoholic beverages.

   The program promotes sexual abstinence for teens, but also provides information on contraception in case they become sexually active.

   Synonyms:

   teetotalism, sobriety, abstemiousness

2. any self-restraint, self-denial, or forbearance.

3. the act of abstaining for any length of time from a substance or activity to which one has become addicted, but without actually dealing with the root causes of dependency.

   Abstinence addresses the symptoms of addiction, while sobriety has deeper mental and emotional dimensions.

4. the act of abstaining from a particular substance or activity as a spiritual discipline, as during Lent or some other period of religious fasting or self-denial.

   At one time Lenten abstinence from meat was stricter than it is today.

5. Economics. the conserving of current income in order to build up capital or savings.

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abstinence British  

/ ˈæbstɪnəns /

noun

1. the act or practice of refraining from some action or from the use of something, esp alcohol

2. RC Church the practice of refraining from specific kinds of food or drink, esp from meat, as an act of penance

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Other Word Forms

• abstinent
  adjective
• proabstinence
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of abstinence

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English word from Latin word abstinentia. See abstain, -ence

Explanation

If you are a chocolate lover, you'll have to show great restraint when the dessert cart rolls over if you are practicing abstinence, another word for "refraining." It might take a lot of willpower not to throw yourself at the cart. Abstinence is the opposite of indulgence. People who practice abstinence deny themselves something, often something they really want. Regardless of whether people are abstaining from food, alcohol, or sex, they have to practice self-control. In fact, the word is derived from the Latin term for "to hold back." The word abstinence is often used in reference to sex education courses that teach kids to hold themselves back from having sex.

Example Sentences

After the abstinence phase, coffee was gradually reintroduced without participants knowing whether they were drinking caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee.

From Science Daily • May 3, 2026

It concludes a 40-day period known as Lent, during which Christians focus on prayer, almsgiving, and practice traditions such as abstinence from eating meat on certain days.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Nevertheless, Cassian prescribed abstinence not as “‘virtuous in itself’ but because of its positive effects on the soul.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

The household was conservative, Presbyterian and promoted abstinence.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2025

This abstinence does not result from unique environmental conditions such as a severe lack of food or want of potential mates.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

Related Words

• chastity
• fasting
• frugality
• moderation
• self-restraint