What does abstinent mean?
Abstinent is an adjective describing someone who deliberately refrains from indulging in something — most commonly alcohol, drugs, or sexual activity, but also food or other pleasures. A person who has given up drinking entirely may be described as abstinent, as may someone observing religious vows that forbid certain comforts. The word carries connotations of discipline, self-control, and often moral seriousness, and it appears most often in formal contexts such as medical, therapeutic, or religious writing. It derives from the Latin verb abstinēre, meaning 'to hold back' or 'to keep from', the same root that gives us abstain and abstinence. While closely related to abstemious, which suggests moderation rather than complete avoidance, abstinent typically implies full restraint. It remains a useful word in discussions of health, addiction recovery, and personal discipline, where precision about the degree of restraint matters.
adjectiveDeliberately refraining from indulging in something, especially food, drink, or sexual activity; characterized by self-restraint or abstinence.
- Refraining completely from a particular activity or substance, especially alcohol, drugs, or sexual activity.
- Characterized by self-restraint or moderation in general; austere or sparing in habits.
"After years of excess, he resolved to live an abstinent life, giving up alcohol entirely."
"She has remained abstinent since completing her recovery programme two years ago."
"The monks led an abstinent existence, rising before dawn and eating only once a day."
The word 'abstinent' and 'abstemious' both come from the same Latin root — but one means total avoidance while the other just means moderation at the dinner table.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of abstinent
Abstinent comes from the Latin verb abstinēre ('to hold back, refrain'), formed from abs- ('away from') and tenēre ('to hold'). It entered English via Old French in the late Middle Ages, with the noun abstinence appearing slightly earlier. Cognates sharing this Latin root include abstain, abstinence, abstention, and abstemious, all carrying the core idea of holding oneself back from something.
Related word forms
How abstinent is actually used
Formal to neutral register. In modern usage it most frequently appears in contexts of recovery (alcohol, drugs) or discussions of sexual behaviour. The related noun 'abstinence' is more common than the adjective in everyday speech.
Easily confused with abstinent
Abstemious refers specifically to moderation in eating and drinking, while abstinent is broader and often implies complete avoidance of food, drink, sex, or other indulgences.