Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words

continence

play
noun con·ti·nence \ ˈkän-tə-nən(t)s \

Definition of continence

1 :self-restraint; especially :a refraining from sexual intercourse
2 :the ability to retain a bodily discharge voluntarily
  • fecal continence

People Are Reading

young-plant-shoots
Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!
alt-59c448f88ea38
Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'
image1644821030
These Are Fighting Words
video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Examples of continence in a Sentence

  1. argued for a pregnancy-prevention program that did not put so much faith in the continence of teenagers

  2. experiencing a moment of unusual continence, I refrained from returning her gratuitous insult

Origin and Etymology of continence

see 1continent

continence Synonyms

Synonyms
abstinence, chasteness, chastity, celibacy
Antonyms
disinhibition, incontinence, unconstraint
Related Words
modesty, purity; honor, innocence, virginity, virtue
Near Antonyms
debauchery, lechery, licentiousness, venery, wenching, whoring

Medical Dictionary

continence

play
noun con·ti·nence \ ˈkänt-ᵊn-ən(t)s \

medical Definition of continence

1 :self-restraint in refraining from sexual intercourse
2 :the ability to retain a bodily discharge voluntarily
  • fecal continence

Learn More about continence

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for continence Spanish Central: Translation of continence Nglish: Translation of continence for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up continence? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

toothsome

play

agreeable, attractive, or delicious

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. dotage, dotard a state or period of senile decay

  2. otherwise "in other respects"

  3. federalism Graham says bill gives power to states

  4. bodega "Don’t mess with the beloved bodega."

  5. carceral Of, relating to, or suggesting a jail or prison

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

continence

Test Your Vocabulary

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

  • young-plant-shoots
  • Which of the following is a new sense of the word bunny?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-59c52d6ee2f72
Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

The word's origins are quite literal

alt-59c4207ecf106
Let's Talk 'Tea'

Spill it, sip it: just make it hot.

image1644821030
8 Words and Phrases from Boxing and Wrestling

Common terms that come from boxing and wrestling

alt-59c2960017c94
The Ambiguity of Pushing 'Up' and 'Back'

When you push a meeting, where does it go?

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

young-plant-shoots
Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

You're going to have to memorize the dictionary again.

Take the quiz
stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

No tricks, just difficult words.

Take the quiz
True or False
True or False?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Take the quiz
Word Winder's CrossWinder
Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

Play the game
Examples: continence in a Sentence