willpower

American  

[wil-poh-er] / ˈwɪlˌpoʊ ər /

Or will power

noun

1. control of one's impulses and actions; self-control.

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willpower British  

/ ˈwɪlˌpaʊə /

noun

1. the ability to control oneself and determine one's actions

2. firmness of will

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Etymology

Origin of willpower

First recorded in 1870–75; will ² ( def. ) + power ( def. )

Example Sentences

Keeping pre-cut fruit within reach in the refrigerator or placing sweets out of sight can support long-term goals without requiring constant willpower.

From Science Daily

The idea that obesity is simply a matter of willpower is held by a great many people - including some medical professionals.

From BBC

The Apollo engineers had slide rules and willpower.

From MarketWatch

What has changed is her acceptance 2½ years ago that she has a disease, obesity, and that this time around there was something not called “willpower” to help her manage it.

From Los Angeles Times

Strips of text spelling “freestyle,” “defects” and “willpower”—each in a unique color and font—span one corner.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• firmness
• grit
• self-control
• self-discipline