# fasting period

CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fasting-period
Updated: 2026-08-07

## Definition

a specific time when you choose not to eat food, or certain kinds of food, for health or religious reasons.

For teachers: a designated duration during which an individual abstains from some or all food and drink, typically for religious, medical, or political purposes.

## Examples

- The doctor says a twelve-hour fasting period is necessary before the blood test.
- During the religious fasting period, the community gathers for a large meal only after the sun has set.
- Clinical studies suggest that a controlled fasting period can improve metabolic health by allowing the body to exhaust its glucose stores and begin burning fat for fuel.

## Usage notes

- Often used in medical or religious contexts; frequently paired with the preposition 'during'.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'starvation' to show that a fasting period is a controlled, often voluntary choice rather than a forced lack of food.

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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.