sobriety

noun

so·​bri·​ety sə-ˈbrī-ə-tē 

sō-

: the quality or state of being sober

Synonyms of sobriety

• intentness
• gravity
• earnestness
• soberness
• earnest

Examples of sobriety in a Sentence

They did a sobriety test on him.

the sobriety of the situation

Recent Examples on the Web

According to state police, the driver, identified as 21-year-old Isaak Berkun of Guilford, appeared to be impaired and allegedly failed multiple field sobriety tests. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026

Claunch had found sobriety two years ago after struggling with alcoholism for many years, his sister told the Times. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

Claunch had lived in Idaho for about 30 years and found sobriety two years ago, his sister Kimberly Castaneda told The New York Times. — Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 4 Aug. 2026

The Rancho Cordova Police Department will hold a sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint at an undisclosed location Friday, the agency said in a news release. — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sobrete, from Anglo-French sobreté, from Latin sobrietat-, sobrietas, from sobrius

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sobriety

• gaiety
• piety
• antianxiety
• intersociety
• anxiety
• impiety
• propriety
• satiety
• society
• variety
• contrariety
• impropriety

Kids Definition

sobriety

noun

so·​bri·​ety sə-ˈbrī-ət-ē 

: the quality or state of being sober