# abstinence

/ˈæbstənəns/ (US) · /ˈæbstɪnəns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abstinence
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. general self-restraint

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of choosing not to do something you enjoy, often for health, religious, or moral reasons.

For teachers: the practice of refraining from indulging an appetite or desire. Uncountable in its general sense; countable when referring to specific instances of restraint.

- The doctor suggested total abstinence from sugary snacks to help his recovery.
- The monk's life was defined by strict abstinence, a discipline he believed was necessary for achieving spiritual clarity.

### 2. avoiding alcohol

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

not drinking any alcohol at all.

For teachers: the practice of total avoidance of alcoholic beverages, often as part of a recovery programme or social movement.

- After years of heavy drinking, he has maintained his abstinence for a decade.
- The organisation promotes complete abstinence from alcohol as the only reliable path to long-term health for those with a history of dependency.

### 3. avoiding sex

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the choice to not have sex, often until marriage.

For teachers: the practice of refraining from sexual intercourse, typically for moral, religious, or contraceptive reasons.

- Some schools teach abstinence as a way to prevent teenage pregnancy.
- The study examined the effectiveness of abstinence-only education compared to comprehensive sexual health programmes in urban high schools.

### 4. financial restraint

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic

choosing to save money instead of spending it right away.

For teachers: the delay of immediate consumption or spending in order to accumulate capital or savings.

- The family's financial abstinence allowed them to buy a house after five years.
- In classical economics, interest is sometimes described as a reward for the abstinence required to save rather than spend.

Usage: Often used in classical economic theory regarding capital accumulation.

## Examples

- He practiced total abstinence from alcohol for a whole year.
- The doctor recommended complete abstinence from sugary snacks to help manage the patient's blood sugar levels.
- While some cultures view periodic abstinence as a path to spiritual clarity, others treat it as a pragmatic method for maintaining physical discipline and self-control.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.