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

Margot Kushel, the director of the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative at University of California, San Francisco, found that unhoused people have the health profiles of patients two decades older, with similar rates of incontinence, dementia and falls. —Jason Deparle, New York Times, 10 June 2024

Called latchkey incontinence, this type of urge doesn’t have anything to do with how full your bladder is. —Emily Underwood, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 June 2024

Anticipate the unexpected during intimacy Navigating intimacy with IBD can be daunting, but there are effective ways to manage leakage and incontinence without ruining a romantic mood. —Claire Sibonney, TIME, 4 June 2024

Pelvic floor dysfunction can increase your risk of UTIs and incontinence. —Sarah Klein, Health, 1 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing incontinence

• stress incontinence
• urge incontinence

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