temptation
Americannoun
-
the act of tempting; enticement or allurement.
- Synonyms:
- inducement, seduction, pull, attraction, lure
-
something that tempts, entices, or allures.
-
the fact or state of being tempted, especially to evil.
-
an instance of this.
-
(initial capital letter) the temptation of Christ by Satan. Matthew 4.
noun
-
the act of tempting or the state of being tempted
-
a person or thing that tempts
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”; 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.
Vocabulary lists containing temptation
Bridge to Terabithia
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Brown Girl Dreaming
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
A Long Way from Chicago
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Not paying off your student loans can be an understandable temptation, especially when you’re facing what feels like an insurmountable amount of debt.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026
However, this influential cameo demonstrated why the temptation to start the World Cup with Bellingham may be impossible for Tuchel to resist.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 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
When deadlines and bills are circling you, the temptation to cut corners is extremely powerful.
From Slate • Mar. 28, 2026
But it’s not a temptation to which I would ever think of yielding in these postmodern days.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
