incontinent

American  

[in-kon-tn-uhnt] / ɪnˈkɒn tn ənt /

adjective

1. unable to restrain natural discharges or evacuations of urine or feces.

2. unable to contain or retain (usually followed byof ).

   incontinent of temper.

3. lacking in moderation or self-control, especially of sexual desire.

4. unceasing or unrestrained.

   an incontinent flow of talk.

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incontinent ¹ British  

/ ɪnˈkɒntɪnənt /

adjective

1. lacking in restraint or control, esp sexually

2. relating to or exhibiting involuntary urination or defecation

3. (foll by of) having little or no control (over)

4. unrestrained; uncontrolled

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incontinent ² British  

/ ɪnˈkɒntɪnənt /

adverb

1. obsolete words for immediately

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Other Word Forms

• incontinence noun
• incontinency noun
• incontinently adverb

Etymology

Origin of incontinent

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

Example Sentences

He fell into a coma, became incontinent and quadriplegic.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

"It's being that sandwich generation, where you're between incontinent toddlers and incontinent OAPs – and it's nappies at both ends."

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2026

After he teed off in 2003 on the Fox teenage drama “The O.C.” as a “moody, moon-faced trifle,” the show fired back with a hospital scene featuring a patient named Tom Shales, who is incontinent.

From New York Times • Jan. 16, 2024

Susan can no longer have a conversation, use cutlery and is incontinent.

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2024

If your aged parents have grown tiresome or incontinent, you put them away where others will deal with their dirty diapers and dementia.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich