sobriety

noun

so·​bri·​ety sə-ˈbrī-ə-tē How to pronounce sobriety (audio)
sō-
: the quality or state of being sober

Examples of sobriety in a Sentence

They did a sobriety test on him. the sobriety of the situation
Recent Examples on the Web The first change was that my dad entered sobriety for the first time. Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 Still, Marcos Lugo promised the family that the new year would bring sobriety. Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 10 Mar. 2024 According to state law, a driver with a Florida license who refuses to submit to any sobriety breath test for the first time will have their license suspended for a year. Omar Rodríguez Ortiz, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 The clinic, which operates out of a hospital in São Paulo state, has treated more than 2,500 people, and Dr. Rasmussen said 72 percent of all patients maintained their sobriety years after their initial sessions. Andrew Jacobs, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 According to Gutierrez-Reed’s defense, oversights and bad decisions made by others on set have been thoroughly documented, whereas claims about Gutierrez-Reed’s sobriety are conjecture. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024 In a field sobriety examination, according to records, another trooper asked Ms. McClure to estimate when 30 seconds had elapsed. Mike Baker, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024 Fortune Frugal sobriety Concerns over the potential of a recession are leaving young people across Europe feeling poorer and spending less at shops and bars. Peter Vanham, Fortune Europe, 13 Feb. 2024 This means providing permanent housing without any conditions, such as meeting sobriety requirements, participating in drug treatment, engaging in mental health counseling or participating in job training. Rachel Sheffield, The Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sobriety.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sobriety was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near sobriety

Cite this Entry

“Sobriety.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sobriety. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sobriety

noun
so·​bri·​ety sə-ˈbrī-ət-ē How to pronounce sobriety (audio)
: the quality or state of being sober

More from Merriam-Webster on sobriety

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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