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teetotal

[tee-toht-l, tee-toht-l]

adjective

  1. of or relating to, advocating, or pledged to total abstinence from intoxicating drink.

  2. Informal.,  absolute; complete.



verb (used without object)

teetotaled, teetotaling , teetotalled, teetotalling .
  1. to practice teetotalism.

teetotal

/ tiːˈtəʊtəl /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or practising abstinence from alcoholic drink

  2. dialect,  complete

“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
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Other Word Forms

  • teetotalism noun
  • teetotally adverb
  • teetotaller noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of teetotal1

Reduplicated variant of total, coined by R. Turner, of Preston, England, in 1833, in a speech advocating total abstinence from alcoholic drinks
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Word History and Origins

Origin of teetotal1

C19: allegedly coined in 1833 by Richard Turner, English advocate of total abstinence from alcoholic liquors; probably from total , with emphatic reduplication
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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He is teetotal and a practising Muslim who has spoken openly about his observance of Ramadan.

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According to Hindu customs, warriors and kings may only imbibe on special occasions, while Brahmins must remain teetotal.

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These individual choices are part of an overarching social shift making, as NPR put it, “teetotaling trendy.”

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Whether teetotaling, temperance or virgin, they’re just drinks, after all — though I suppose their intricacy beyond fresh-squeezed juice demands we label them something nobler.

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"For me it was important that once I retired from international netball I didn't just go teetotal and stop completely. I really wanted that transition out," Mentor told BBC Sport.

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