incontinent

1 of 2

adjective

in·​con·​ti·​nent (ˌ)in-ˈkän-tə-nənt 

: not continent: such as

a

: unable to voluntarily control retention of urine or feces in the body

b(1)

: lacking self-restraint

(2)

: not being under control

incontinent

2 of 2

adverb

: incontinently entry 1

Examples of incontinent in a Sentence

Adjective

special products for incontinent patients

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In a blunter mode, the romance novelist Jilly Cooper once named an incontinent goat for a reviewer who had savaged her work. —Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2023

After starting this treatment, the sanctuary determined that the kitten was incontinent. —Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2023

Recently, her dog was given a diagnosis of an incurable spinal tumor and then became incontinent. —Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2022

Men whose hernias had been repaired with mesh were left incontinent and forced to wear adult diapers. —Jeanne Lenzer, Discover Magazine, 11 Feb. 2011

By her early 30s, the after-effects of the radiation had damaged her colon to the point where Burgess-Stocks became incontinent. —Colleen Murphy, Health.com, 29 Nov. 2021

In rapidly aging Japan, more diapers are used by older, incontinent people than by babies. —New York Times, 15 Nov. 2021

Karreon had autism and was developmentally disabled, incontinent, non-verbal and partially blind, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in Clark County Superior Court. —oregonlive, 28 May 2021

Karreon was autistic, developmentally disabled, incontinent, non-verbal and partially blind, according to the affidavit. —oregonlive, 14 Apr. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin incontinent-, incontinens, from in- + continent-, continens continent

Adverb

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin in continenti

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

incontinent

adjective

in·​con·​ti·​nent

(ˈ)in-ˈkänt-ᵊn-ənt

1

: having or showing a lack of self-restraint or control

2

: unable to control keeping urine or feces in the body

incontinently adverb

Medical Definition

incontinent

adjective

in·​con·​ti·​nent (ˈ)in-ˈkänt-ᵊn-ənt 

: not continent

especially : unable to retain a bodily discharge (as urine) voluntarily