temptation

American  

[temp-tey-shuhn] / tɛmpˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

• temptations
  plural

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.

---

temptation British  

/ tɛmpˈteɪʃən /

noun

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

2. a person or thing that tempts

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• temptations
  plural

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

See Examples For:

temptation temptations

We therefore should resist the temptation to extrapolate the blazingly fast earnings growth of recent quarters into the indefinite future.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026

“He has resisted that temptation so far,” O’Hanlon said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

But it’s precisely that experience, and that of my wife, who was an actual world-class athlete, that helps me resist the temptation to go the path of data overload with our two daughters.

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

Few of us have the humility to make that kind of mea culpa, so the temptation is always to double down.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

Harry’s hand brushed the old Snitch through the mokeskin and for a moment he had to fight the temptation to pull it out and throw it away.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

The beloved Minneapolis bakery is famous for its oversized, gooey cinnamon rolls, but there are plenty of other temptations on display, including caramel pecan buns, sticky buns and seasonal specialties.

From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026

He decided early on in his career to ignore the temptations of London and to run his music business from Manchester, a place which he said "has something special" that "no other city can replicate".

From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2026

Kudos to you on prioritizing retirement savings and not letting the temptations of high salaries and lifestyle spending deter you from thinking about your and your wife’s futures.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 10, 2026

In earlier eras of his channel, Orth’s videos had a frothy self-help flair; he doled out advice on how to best enjoy some of the more revelrous temptations the city has to offer.

From Slate ● Nov. 18, 2025

As a celebrity himself, Elisha understood Maggie’s life on tour, and the many temptations put in her path.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock