noun
abstinence
AB-stih-nuhns
noun
1
The practice of deliberately avoiding something one wants, such as food, alcohol, or sex.
"He practised total abstinence from alcohol after the diagnosis."
"The programme teaches abstinence as one method of prevention."
How to Use Abstinence
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDeliberately going without something, especially food, alcohol, or sex.
Common pairings
sexual abstinence
total abstinence
practise abstinence
Word Forms
abstinences plural
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He practised total _____ from alcohol after the diagnosis.
Etymology
From Old French abstinence, based on Latin abstinentia, from abstineo, "to hold back" — the noun form of "abstain."