temptation

American  

[temp-tey-shuhn] / tɛmpˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of tempting; enticement or allurement.

   Synonyms:

   inducement, seduction, pull, attraction, lure

2. something that tempts, entices, or allures.

3. the fact or state of being tempted, especially to evil.

4. an instance of this.

5. (initial capital letter) the temptation of Christ by Satan. Matthew 4.

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temptation British  

/ tɛmpˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of tempting or the state of being tempted

2. a person or thing that tempts

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Other Word Forms

• nontemptation noun
• pretemptation noun
• supertemptation noun
• temptational adjective

Etymology

Origin of temptation

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English temptacion, from Latin temptātiōn- (stem of temptātiō ) “a testing”; tempt, -ation

Explanation

Temptation is something you want to have or to do, even though you know you shouldn't. That bag of peanut butter cups on top of your fridge might be an example of a temptation. The thing that you want despite knowing it's not good for you — like the cool sneakers you really can't afford — is a temptation. The feeling is also a temptation — so wanting those shoes is temptation. The Latin word temptare, or to taste, is where temptation comes from, which makes a lot of sense when you think of that bag of peanut butter cups calling to you from the kitchen.

Example Sentences

“People who succeed aren’t constantly resisting temptation—they’re structuring their lives so temptation doesn’t show up as often.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

The governance issues he confronted—conflicts of interest, self-dealing, and the temptation to look the other way—are recurring features of modern capitalism, perhaps now more than ever.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Standard money advice tells you to unsubscribe from paid services, but unsubscribing from the temptation to spend can save you significantly more in the long run.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

The signal-blocking pouch removes the "temptation" for students, he says, allowing them to be "absolutely focused on learning", as well as "face-to-face contact and social interaction".

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

Boaz kept his eyes trained away from the mirror, despite every temptation to do otherwise.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny