continence
noun
con·ti·nence
ˈkän-tə-nən(t)s 
1
: the ability to retain a bodily discharge voluntarily
fecal continence
2
: self-restraint
especially
: a refraining from sexual intercourse
Examples of continence in a Sentence
argued for a pregnancy-prevention program that did not put so much faith in the continence of teenagers
experiencing a moment of unusual continence, I refrained from returning her gratuitous insult
Recent Examples on the Web
This includes the five major types: stress incontinence, urge incontinence, mixed incontinence, overflow incontinence, and functional continence.
—
Jamin Brahmbhatt, Verywell Health, 29 July 2024
Good posture helps maintain continence, support pelvic organs, and reduce back pain.
—Staci Tanouye, Parents, 29 Aug. 2023
Profligate spending under George W. Bush forever made laughable any Republican assertion of fiscal continence.
—Christopher Buckley, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022
Any chance Sally or Ed has anxiety, digestive or continence issues, hearing loss …?
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 29 Jan. 2023
Aging in the modern era is about slow unstoppable loss - of hearing, of memory, of mobility, of continence, of dignity.
—Kyle Munkittrick, Discover Magazine, 9 Sep. 2011
To maintain continence, the puborectalis muscle chokes the anal canal.
—Cara Schacter, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2022
But even with the delayed start, most healthy, neurotypical kids achieve at least daytime continence by age three.
—Leah Campbell, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2021
Share prices have soared for large Danish health companies such as Coloplast — a major player in the market for colostomy pouches, continence and skin and wound care treatments — and Genmab, a biotech company specializing in cancer treatments.
—Matt Phillips, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2020
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Jamin Brahmbhatt, Verywell Health, 29 July 2024
Good posture helps maintain continence, support pelvic organs, and reduce back pain.
—Staci Tanouye, Parents, 29 Aug. 2023
Profligate spending under George W. Bush forever made laughable any Republican assertion of fiscal continence.
—Christopher Buckley, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022
Any chance Sally or Ed has anxiety, digestive or continence issues, hearing loss …?
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 29 Jan. 2023
Aging in the modern era is about slow unstoppable loss - of hearing, of memory, of mobility, of continence, of dignity.
—Kyle Munkittrick, Discover Magazine, 9 Sep. 2011
To maintain continence, the puborectalis muscle chokes the anal canal.
—Cara Schacter, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2022
But even with the delayed start, most healthy, neurotypical kids achieve at least daytime continence by age three.
—Leah Campbell, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2021
Share prices have soared for large Danish health companies such as Coloplast — a major player in the market for colostomy pouches, continence and skin and wound care treatments — and Genmab, a biotech company specializing in cancer treatments.
—Matt Phillips, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Continence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/continence. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
continence
noun
con·ti·nence
ˈkänt-ᵊn-ən(t)s
1
: self-restraint in refraining from sexual intercourse
2
: the ability to retain a bodily discharge voluntarily
fecal continence
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