Definition and pronunciation
abstinence /ˈæbstɪnəns/ — noun: the practice of deliberately refraining from certain pleasures, especially from sex, alcohol, or food, often for moral, religious, or health reasons.
Easy explanation
Abstinence means choosing not to do something enjoyable, usually not having sex or not drinking alcohol. People may practice abstinence for religious, cultural, medical, or personal reasons.
Grammatical formation
- Noun: abstinence.
- Adjective: abstinent.
- Verb: abstain (from).
Meanings and nuances
- Sexual abstinence — choosing not to have sex, often until marriage.
- Religious abstinence — avoiding pleasures (meat, alcohol, sex) for spiritual discipline.
- Health-related abstinence — staying away from substances like alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.
- Broader restraint — general self-denial of indulgence.
With prepositions and variants
- abstinence from alcohol/sex/drugs: “He practiced abstinence from drinking.”
- vow of abstinence: “She took a vow of abstinence before joining the order.”
Common collocations
sexual abstinence, practice abstinence, vow of abstinence, abstinence-only education, abstinence from alcohol, abstinence period
Idioms and neighboring expressions
- swear off — to stop doing or consuming something
- keep oneself pure — old-fashioned expression meaning sexual abstinence
- total abstinence — complete avoidance
Word comparisons
- abstinence vs celibacy: celibacy = lifelong choice (often religious); abstinence = temporary or situational avoidance.
- abstinence vs sobriety: sobriety = not drunk or free from alcohol; abstinence = total avoidance.
- abstinence vs moderation: moderation = limited use; abstinence = complete avoidance.
Real-life examples
- “He practiced abstinence from alcohol for his health.”
- “The school promoted abstinence-only sex education.”
- “Many religions encourage periods of abstinence.”
- “She chose abstinence until marriage.”
- “Abstinence from drugs helped his recovery.”
Sample sentences
- “They pledged abstinence until marriage.”
- “Abstinence from alcohol is required in this program.”
- “Religious abstinence includes fasting and prayer.”
- “She valued her choice of abstinence.”
- “Abstinence helped him regain control of his life.”
- “The monks took vows of abstinence.”
- “Abstinence-only education has been controversial.”
- “His doctor advised abstinence from smoking.”
- “Periods of abstinence were part of the tradition.”
- “She practiced abstinence as a personal decision.”
Synonyms
self-restraint, self-denial, temperance, celibacy, sobriety, refraining, asceticism, moderation (partial sense)
Antonyms
indulgence, excess, promiscuity, intoxication, self-indulgence, hedonism
Related terms
abstinent, celibacy, sobriety, chastity, restraint, moderation, virtue
Connection to sexuality
Yes. Abstinence is strongly connected to sexuality. It is often used to describe the decision to avoid sexual activity, either temporarily (before marriage, during a vow, or for personal reasons) or permanently (as in religious vows). However, it can also apply outside sexuality, to alcohol, food, or drugs.
Sexopedia.co is an educational glossary of sexual and gender-related terms—helping you improve your English while deepening your understanding of identity, language, and self-expression.