What does refrainment mean?
Refrainment is an uncommon noun meaning the act of abstaining or holding oneself back. It is especially associated with moral, religious, or legal contexts, although its basic sense is broad: a person may refrain from speaking, eating, drinking, or otherwise acting. In ordinary modern English, abstention or abstinence often sounds more natural, while refrainment has a formal, slightly literary tone. The word is nevertheless useful because it names not merely the decision but the sustained practice of holding back. Its Latin ancestry is especially memorable: the underlying verb meant “to rein in,” originally suggesting control by a bridle. Like its relatives refrain and refrainer, refrainment turns self-control into a concrete noun. It can suggest restraint as a principle rather than a momentary impulse, although context determines whether the tone is approving, neutral, or censorious.
nounThe act or practice of refraining from something; abstinence or self-restraint.
- The act or practice of abstaining from something; restraint or forbearance.
"Her refrainment from gossip and needless argument impressed everyone."
"Her refrainment from gossip and needless argument impressed everyone."
"The court cited his refrainment from alcohol as evidence of his rehabilitation."
The plural is grammatically possible but rarely encountered because the noun itself is uncommon.
"The agreement records a series of refrainments from alcohol and tobacco."
The same Latin root behind refrainment once meant “to rein in”: the original image was a bridle, not merely a decision to say no.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does refrainment come from?
Refrainment was formed in Middle English from an Old French-derived stem meaning “restrain” or “hold back,” together with the suffix -ment. The related English verb refrain came through Anglo-Norman French from Latin refrenare, meaning “to rein in,” which was built from re-, meaning “back,” and frenum, meaning “bridle.” The derivative refrainer preserves the same lineage.
How refrainment is actually used
Rare and somewhat formal or literary. In everyday English, abstention, abstinence, or restraint is usually more natural. The word can appear in moral, religious, legal, or medical contexts.
Easily confused with refrainment
Refrainment is the noun for the act of abstaining, whereas refrain is the verb meaning to avoid doing something or, in a different sense, a repeated phrase in a song or poem.