temperance

noun

Save Word

tem·per·ance | \ ˈtem-p(ə-)rən(t)s

, -pərn(t)s\

Definition of temperance

1 : moderation in action, thought, or feeling : restraint

2a : habitual moderation in the indulgence of the appetites or passions

b : moderation in or abstinence from the use of alcoholic beverages

Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about temperance

Keep scrolling for more

Did You Know?

Since temperance means basically "moderation", you might assume that, with respect to alcohol, temperance would mean moderate consumption, or "social drinking". Instead, the word has usually meant the prohibition of all alcohol. To temperance leaders such as Carry Nation, the safest form of drinking was no alcohol at all. Believing she was upholding the law, Nation began her hatchet-swinging attacks on saloons, known as "hatchetations", in the 1890s. National prohibition did eventually come—and go—but largely through the efforts of more temperate (that is, moderate) reformers.

Examples of temperance in a Sentence

The minister preached about temperance. my father attributes his ripe old age to temperance in all things, especially eating and drinking

Recent Examples on the Web That would put John Roberts, a man known for his temperance and modest view of judicial power, in an uncomfortable place: at the direct center of a bitter political battle. — Tessa Berenson, Time, "Why Impeachment Could Be a Nightmare for Chief Justice John Roberts," 31 Oct. 2019 To support temperance, successful digital abstinence requires users to develop new rituals for their devices, rituals that go beyond the ones endorsed by the technology companies that provide these devices. — Marcel O’gorman, The Atlantic, "The Case for Locking Up Your Smartphone," 2 Feb. 2018 One group was that of first-wave feminists, who ranged from organizers of temperance unions calling for the prohibition of alcohol to suffragettes who fought for women’s right to vote. — William To, azcentral, "Love in the time of loss: ‘Shining Brow’ and the life of Frank Lloyd Wright," 30 Aug. 2019 Yupik and Chukchi people practiced shamanism, and lived in a time that human history was supposed to have surpassed, without literacy, temperance, science, or gender equality. — Bathsheba Demuth, The New Yorker, "When the Soviet Union Freed the Arctic from Capitalist Slavery," 15 Aug. 2019 The hall also has hosted events such as temperance meetings, Turkey Days, voting polls, 4-H meetings, Miss Ramona contests, political meetings, community theater, silent film festivals and Town Hall Days. — Ramona Sentinel, "Savor Summer Nights in Ramona Town Hall," 19 Aug. 2019 Starting in the 1830s, white Americans began forming their own mutual aid groups as part of the temperance movement. — Livia Gershon, Longreads, "Peers in Healing," 10 June 2019 Zero-to-60 mph acceleration is 8.1 seconds, a flaming catapult of temperance. — Dan Neil, WSJ, "Lexus ES 300h: Spend on the Luxury, Save on Gas Money," 24 Jan. 2019 If you, for some reason, supported reviving alcohol prohibition in America, there’s basically no way a temperance movement is going to succeed in the 21st century. — Dylan Matthews, Vox, "Billionaires are spending their fortunes reshaping America’s schools. It isn’t working.," 30 Oct. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'temperance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.