English Reference

Word

incontinence

Phoneticsin·con·ti·nence

US/ˌɪnˈkɑntənəns/

UK/ɪnkˈɒntɪnəns/

Definition

n. the inability to control your body's natural functions, such as urinating or passing gas. It is a medical condition that affects many people as they get older.

n. the loss of voluntary control over the excretion of urine or faeces. Often used in clinical contexts to describe a symptom of various neurological or physical conditions.

Examples

“The patient requires assistance with incontinence management.”

“As the population ages, the demand for specialized products to manage urinary incontinence continues to rise.”

“While occasional incontinence is common in young children, persistent issues in adults often signal underlying health problems that require immediate medical intervention and lifestyle adjustments.”

Examples

simple

“The patient requires assistance with incontinence management.”

contextual

“As the population ages, the demand for specialized products to manage urinary incontinence continues to rise.”

complex

“While occasional incontinence is common in young children, persistent issues in adults often signal underlying health problems that require immediate medical intervention and lifestyle adjustments.”

Real-World Examples

“Prolonged damage can lead to incontinence or uncontrolled peeing, and even kidney failure.”
BBC News · 22 Sept 2026
“Photograph: Joe Bird/Alamy Some of the children affected are using incontinence pads and urinating in buckets next to their bed at night due to bladder problems caused by addiction to ketamine.”
The Guardian · 22 Sept 2026

Etymology

From Middle English incontinence, from Old French incontinence, from Latin incontinentia.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference