sobriety

noun

so·​bri·​ety sə-ˈbrī-ə-tē 

sō-

: the quality or state of being sober

Synonyms

• intentness
• gravity
• earnestness
• soberness
• earnest

Examples of sobriety in a Sentence

They did a sobriety test on him.

the sobriety of the situation

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, after years of sobriety and reflection, Sheen tells all in this new two-part docuseries. —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025

Funding for the sobriety checkpoint came from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. —Sarah Linn, Sacbee.com, 12 Sep. 2025

Four residents reported sobriety as a success for the year, but that data isn’t tracked for every resident, according to McGinnis-Brown. —Idaho Statesman, 11 Sep. 2025

Now, years into his sobriety, Sheen opens up about his journey to recovery in his new memoir, The Book of Sheen, and the two-part Netflix documentary aka Charlie Sheen. —Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sobrete, from Anglo-French sobreté, from Latin sobrietat-, sobrietas, from sobrius

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sobriety

• anxiety
• impiety
• propriety
• satiety
• society
• variety
• antianxiety
• intersociety
• contrariety
• impropriety
• inebriety
• notoriety

Kids Definition

sobriety

noun

so·​bri·​ety sə-ˈbrī-ət-ē 

: the quality or state of being sober