# temperance

/ˈtɛmpɝəns/ (US) · /tˈɛmpəɹəns/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. self-control

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

the habit of controlling your behavior and not doing things to an extreme.

For teachers: habitual moderation or self-restraint in action, thought, or feeling; the exercise of discipline over natural impulses.

- The monk lived a life of temperance, eating only what he needed to survive.
- The philosopher argued that temperance was the foundation of a virtuous life, requiring a constant balance between desire and reason.

Usage: Uncountable in this abstract sense.

### 2. avoiding alcohol

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

the practice of drinking little or no alcohol.

For teachers: moderation or total abstinence from alcoholic beverages, often associated with social or religious movements.

- My great-grandfather joined a temperance society and never drank beer again.
- During the nineteenth century, the temperance movement gained significant political power by highlighting the social costs of public drunkenness.

Usage: Often used as a modifier, as in 'temperance movement' or 'temperance hotel'.

### 3. calmness

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

a calm and controlled way of thinking or acting.

For teachers: moderation of passion or emotion; a state of remaining calm and level-headed.

- He showed great temperance by staying calm even when the customer was shouting.
- The diplomat was praised for his temperance during the heated negotiations, never allowing his personal frustrations to cloud his judgment.

### 4. Tarot card

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a specific card in a Tarot deck that shows a person pouring liquid between two cups.

For teachers: the fourteenth trump or major arcana card in most traditional Tarot decks, symbolizing balance and patience.

- She drew the Temperance card, which the reader said meant she needed to find balance.
- In many occult traditions, the Temperance card depicts an angel standing with one foot on land and one in water, representing the union of opposites.

## Examples

- He practiced temperance in all his daily habits.
- The local museum features a collection of posters from the historical temperance movement that campaigned against alcohol.
- While the philosopher advocated for temperance in political discourse, his contemporaries often found his own essays to be surprisingly sharp and unyielding.

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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.