temperance

noun

tem·​per·​ance ˈtem-p(ə-)rən(t)s 

-pərn(t)s

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

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.

Synonyms

• moderateness
• moderation
• temperateness

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’s Carry Nation, an advocate of the temperance movement who smashed saloons across Kansas with rocks and hatchets. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024

Photos: Sneak behind the scenes at A Cause for Tea in Monroe for a sip and a snack Feminist history of tea houses Teahouses have roots in feminist and temperance history. —Kristen Kornbluth, Charlotte Observer, 22 Mar. 2024

His father died eight days before he was born in 1864, and he was raised in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, by his widowed mother, a small-businesswoman and a stalwart temperance advocate. —Michael Jackman, Detroit Free Press, 9 Mar. 2024

Italian Gen Zers are leading that temperance movement, with seven in 10 young people there choosing to cut back on alcohol spending last year. —Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 12 Feb. 2024

Prohibition The backbone of the temperance movement during the late 1800s was women’s fury at the loutishness of men. —Allison Robicelli, Washington Post, 16 Jan. 2024

The pleasure barge sank under suspicious circumstances in 1932, perhaps sabotaged by members of the local temperance movement. —Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Dec. 2023

These are some near misses—geopolitical indicators that demonstrate that this is an era that calls for influential leaders to hew to some temperance, humility, and restraint. —Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 23 Oct. 2023

Besides the Trib, his great passions, if they may be called that, were civil-service reform, temperance, and habits of personal economy. —Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 2 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English temperaunce, borrowed from Anglo-French temprance, temperance, borrowed from Latin temperantia "self-control, moderation, restraint," noun derivative from temperant-, temperans, present participle of temperāre "to exercise moderation, restrain oneself" — more at temper entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

temperance

noun

tem·​per·​ance ˈtem-p(ə-)rən(t)s 

-pərn(t)s

1

: control over one's acts, thoughts, or feelings : moderation, restraint

2

: the use of little or no alcoholic drink

Medical Definition

temperance

noun

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

: habitual moderation in the indulgence of the appetites or passions

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