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

Derived Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of temptation

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

But "the temptation to declare vacancy will always be there," political scientist Fernando Tuesta told AFP.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

While both these approaches would almost certainly run afoul of labor laws, the new tax law has introduced a temptation that simply wasn’t there before.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026

Analysts have praised the reinsurer for resisting the temptation to add new business at the expense of profits.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

She arrived at Roland Garros having barely played in the past three months because of the lingering effects of a viral illness, but Raducanu resisted the temptation to skip the clay-court major.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

“And it’s a temptation for any intelligent person, and especially for perfectionists such as the ancients and ourselves, to try to murder the primitive, emotive, appetitive self. But that is a mistake.”

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt