temperance

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noun tem·per·ance \ ˈtem-p(ə-)rən(t)s , -pərn(t)s \

Definition of temperance

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

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

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

See temperance defined for English-language learners

See temperance defined for kids

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 of temperance from the Web

Xi’s temperance movement | China’s president is preparing for a big Communist Party reshuffle this year with a return to his signature campaign against lavish consumption.

— michael winfrey, Bloomberg.com, "Balance of Power: Bluster, Strategy and Dealing With North Korea," 10 Aug. 2017
Temperance crusaders were mostly backward cultural conservatives.

— mark lawrence schrad, Washington Post, "On Prohibition’s 100th anniversary, here’s a distillation of 3 myths about the temperance movement.," 1 Aug. 2017
A Cold Water Army of boys pledged lifelong temperance.

— grant segall, cleveland.com, "Newbury celebrates bicentennnial and free-speech chapel (photos)," 22 July 2017
In that time, as Mary Jergenson points out in the Petoskey News, Pierce lived through the Civil War and witnessed the temperance movement.

— kat eschner, Smithsonian, "Only One Woman Who Was at the Seneca Falls Women’s Rights Convention Lived to See Women Win the Vote," 20 July 2017
On the other hand, officials also worried that coffeehouses encouraged male dawdling and sloth, not industry and work—a criticism later echoed by anti-alcohol temperance campaigners worldwide.

— cynthia r. greenlee, Bon Appetit, "People Used to Be So Scared of Coffee That Bach Wrote a Cantata About It," 14 June 2017
Dow led the temperance movement in Maine, records the New England Historical Society.

— kat eschner, Smithsonian, "Why Was Maine the First State to Try Prohibition?," 2 June 2017
An tankard made in the 18th century was refashioned into a milk can in the 19th century, to reflect Industrial Revolution-era temperance movements.

— susan dunne, courant.com, "'Simply Splendid' Exhibit At Wadsworth Atheneum," 25 May 2017
Helping the cause of the 101st running are the numerous story lines serving as a backdrop: — Speeds are back after years of temperance.

— dave skretta, The Seattle Times, "Indianapolis 500 seeks centennial bump for 101st edition," 22 May 2017

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.

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.

Origin and Etymology of temperance

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin temperantia, from temperant-, temperans, present participle of temperare to moderate, be moderate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

temperance Synonyms

Synonyms

moderateness, moderation, temperateness

Antonyms

excessiveness, immoderacy, immoderateness, immoderation, intemperance, intemperateness

Near Antonyms

excess, superfluity; extremeness, extremity; unconstraint, unrestraint; extremism, radicalness; irrationality, unreasonableness; insobriety

TEMPERANCE Defined for English Language Learners

temperance

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noun

Definition of temperance for English Language Learners

: the practice of drinking little or no alcohol
: the practice of always controlling your actions, thoughts, or feelings so that you do not eat or drink too much, become too angry, etc.

TEMPERANCE Defined for Kids

temperance

play

noun tem·per·ance \ ˈtem-pə-rəns , -prəns \

Definition of temperance for Students

1 :control over actions, thoughts, or feelings

2 :the use of little or no liquor

Word Root of temperance

The Latin word temperāre, meaning “to make mild,” “to control,” or “to soften,” gives us the root temper. Words from the Latin temperāre have something to do with mildness or control. To temper is to soften or make something less strong or difficult. Someone temperamental has little control over her or his mood and reactions to people and events. Temperature, or the degree of hotness or coldness, tells whether something is mild, too hot, or too cold.