incontinent

1 of 2

adjective

in·​con·​ti·​nent (ˌ)in-ˈkän-tə-nənt How to pronounce incontinent (audio)
: not continent: such as
a
: unable to voluntarily control retention of urine or feces in the body
b(1)
: lacking self-restraint
(2)
: not being under control

incontinent

2 of 2

adverb

Examples of incontinent in a Sentence

Adjective special products for incontinent patients
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Next on the agenda, Your Grace would like to see Grover Tully, Lord of Riverrun, bend the knee to Rhaenyra (though presumably, this will be a metaphorical knee as Grover is understood to be somewhat mentally incapacitated and definitely incontinent). Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 30 June 2024 In a blunter mode, the romance novelist Jilly Cooper once named an incontinent goat for a reviewer who had savaged her work. Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2023 After starting this treatment, the sanctuary determined that the kitten was incontinent. Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2023 Recently, her dog was given a diagnosis of an incurable spinal tumor and then became incontinent. Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2022 See all Example Sentences for incontinent 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin incontinent-, incontinens, from in- + continent-, continens continent

Adverb

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin in continenti

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of incontinent was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near incontinent

Cite this Entry

“Incontinent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incontinent. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

incontinent

adjective
in·​con·​ti·​nent
(ˈ)in-ˈkänt-ᵊn-ənt
1
: having or showing a lack of self-restraint or control
2
: unable to control keeping urine or feces in the body
incontinently adverb

Medical Definition

incontinent

adjective
in·​con·​ti·​nent (ˈ)in-ˈkänt-ᵊn-ənt How to pronounce incontinent (audio)
: not continent
especially : unable to retain a bodily discharge (as urine) voluntarily
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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