Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

abstinence

noun [U]
 
 
/ˈæb.stɪ.nəns/ formal

Definition

not doing something, such as drinking alcohol or having sex: The best way to avoid pregnancy is total abstinence from sex.Abstaining and refraining abstinent
 
 
/-nənt/ adjective
sexually abstinentAbstaining and refraining
(Definition of abstinence noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“abstinence” in other dictionaries

Word of the Day

honest-to-goodness

real or true

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More