abstinence
forbearance, especially habitual forbearance as a lifestyle choice, from any indulgence of a particular appetite, such as from sex or from the use of alcoholic beverages: The program promotes sexual abstinence for teens, but also provides information on contraception in case they become sexually active.
any self-restraint, self-denial, or forbearance.
the act of abstaining for any length of time from a substance or activity to which one has become addicted, but without actually dealing with the root causes of dependency: Abstinence addresses the symptoms of addiction, while sobriety has deeper mental and emotional dimensions.: See also sobriety (def. 3).
the act of abstaining from a particular substance or activity as a spiritual discipline, as during Lent or some other period of religious fasting or self-denial: At one time Lenten abstinence from meat was stricter than it is today.
Economics. the conserving of current income in order to build up capital or savings.
Origin of abstinence
1- Also ab·sti·nen·cy [ab-stuh-nuhn-see] /ˈæb stə nən si/ .
Other words for abstinence
Other words from abstinence
- ab·sti·nent, adjective
- pro·ab·sti·nence, adjective
Words that may be confused with abstinence
- abstention, abstinence
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for abstinence
/ (ˈæbstɪnəns) /
the act or practice of refraining from some action or from the use of something, esp alcohol
mainly RC Church the practice of refraining from specific kinds of food or drink, esp from meat, as an act of penance
Origin of abstinence
1Derived forms of abstinence
- abstinent, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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