incontinence

noun

in·​con·​ti·​nence (ˌ)in-ˈkän-tə-nən(t)s 

: the quality or state of being incontinent

We may reasonably trust … that public sobriety will reassert itself over the political and intellectual incontinence that currently commands the headlines.

—Woody West

: such as

a

: inability of the body to control the evacuative functions of urination or defecation : partial or complete loss of bladder or bowel control

fecal incontinence

urinary incontinence

see also stress incontinence, urge incontinence

b

: failure to restrain sexual appetite

It is true that the religion of the missionaries has … effected some good. It has restrained the vices of theft and incontinence.

—Herman Melville

Examples of incontinence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the issue goes beyond menstruation — the same concerns apply to urinary incontinence. —Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025

This includes things like not being able to eat, move, or breathe normally, severe injury, incontinence, constant pain, or serious behavioral issues that leave them distressed. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025

Villa Capri, a WellQuest facility in Santa Rosa, has had five sustained complaints since 2023 related to insufficient patient care, including not giving medication, helping with incontinence or responding to patients’ requests for assistance in a timely fashion. —Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2025

Besides the pain, discomfort and fatigue from the surgery and general anesthesia, you are typically left with urinary leakage and incontinence and erectile dysfunction for at least a while. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing incontinence

• stress incontinence
• urge incontinence

Rhymes for incontinence

• continence

Kids Definition

incontinence

noun

in·​con·​ti·​nence (ˈ)in-ˈkänt-ᵊn-ən(t)s 

: the quality or state of being incontinent

Medical Definition

incontinence

noun

in·​con·​ti·​nence (ˈ)in-ˈkänt-ᵊn-ən(t)s 

1

: inability or failure to restrain sexual appetite

2

: inability of the body to control the evacuative functions

fecal incontinence

see stress incontinence, urge incontinence