Dictionary.com

incontinent

[ in-kon-tn-uhnt ]
/ ɪnˈkɒn tn ənt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR incontinent ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

unable to restrain natural discharges or evacuations of urine or feces.
unable to contain or retain (usually followed by of): incontinent of temper.
lacking in moderation or self-control, especially of sexual desire.
unceasing or unrestrained: an incontinent flow of talk.

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Origin of incontinent

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin incontinent- (stem of incontinēns ); see in-3, continent (adjective)

OTHER WORDS FROM incontinent

in·con·ti·nence, in·con·ti·nen·cy, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH incontinent

incontinent , inconsistent

Words nearby incontinent

inconstant, inconsumable, incontestability clause, incontestable, incontinence, incontinent, incontinentia pigmenti, incontinentia pigmenti achromiens, incontinently, incontrollable, incontrovertible
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to incontinent

unchecked, uncontrollable, uncontrolled, ungovernable, unsuppressed

Example sentences from the Web for incontinent

British Dictionary definitions for incontinent (1 of 2)

incontinent1
/ (ɪnˈkɒntɪnənt) /

adjective

lacking in restraint or control, esp sexually
relating to or exhibiting involuntary urination or defecation
(foll by of) having little or no control (over)
unrestrained; uncontrolled

Derived forms of incontinent

incontinence or incontinency, nounincontinently, adverb

Word Origin for incontinent

C14: from Old French, from Latin incontinens, from in- 1 + continere to hold, restrain

British Dictionary definitions for incontinent (2 of 2)

incontinent2

incontinently

/ (ɪnˈkɒntɪnənt) /

adverb

obsolete words for immediately

Word Origin for incontinent

C15: from Late Latin in continentī tempore, literally: in continuous time, that is, with no interval
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for incontinent

incontinent
[ ĭn-kŏn′tə-nənt ]

adj.

Lacking normal voluntary control of excretory functions.
Lacking sexual restraint; unchaste.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.