sobriety

American  

[suh-brahy-i-tee, soh-] / səˈbraɪ ɪ ti, soʊ- /

noun

1. the state or quality of being sober rather than intoxicated.

2. temperance or moderation, especially in the use of alcoholic beverages.

3. the condition of a person addicted to alcohol, or to some other mood-altering substance, who successfully abstains from its use and from other associated habits while addressing the root causes of dependency and adopting a new outlook on life.

   She’s turned herself around after entering a treatment center with staff who never gave up on her until she achieved sobriety.

   Even once you have attained sobriety, recovery is a lifelong process.

4. seriousness, gravity, or solemnity.

   Our farewell gathering for the six laid-off employees was an event marked by sobriety.

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sobriety British  

/ səʊˈbraɪətɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being sober

2. the quality of refraining from excess

3. the quality of being serious or sedate

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Other Word Forms

• nonsobriety
  noun

Etymology

Origin of sobriety

1375–1425; late Middle English sobrietie (< Old French sobriete ) < Latin sōbrietās, equivalent to sōbri ( us ) sober + -etās, variant of -itās -ity after vowel stems

Explanation

Sobriety is the state of being sober, which can mean either not intoxicated or being solemn. If he takes a drink, an alcoholic ends a stretch of sobriety. You might note sobriety in the stands when your team is losing. When thinking about sobriety, think about the Puritans, and the way they kept the Sabbath. For them, even laughing on a Sunday was seen as an excessive display. Known for sobriety, they preferred a day marked by prayer and contemplation. It goes without saying that they frowned upon the consumption of any form of alcohol––favoring sobriety of both kinds.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sobriety

But not accounting for Galliano’s 15 years of sobriety, his frank apologies, and his continued remorse is somewhat unnerving.

From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026

This new sobriety probably takes some of the fizz out of what the sociologist Emile Durkheim called the “collective effervescence” that revelers feel while partying together in large groups.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Well, this is going to sound like I’m so codependent on this person, but the person who planted the seed of sobriety in my head was Bob the Drag Queen.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

I've been quite lucky not to experience this but if people challenge you on your sobriety, be firm - you don't owe an explanation to anyone and it should be enough to just say no.

From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026

The count decorated it according to his personal taste, with a decadent, ambiguous refinement that startled Blanca, accustomed as she was to country life and her father’s classical sobriety.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende