abstinence
choosing not to have or do something, often for health, moral, or religious reasons.
the deliberate practice of not doing, using, eating, or drinking something, especially something enjoyable or considered harmful.
choosing not to have sex.
the choice or practice of not having sexual activity, often for personal, religious, health, or contraceptive reasons.
not using alcohol or drugs at all, especially after addiction.
the state or practice of completely avoiding alcohol, drugs, or another addictive substance, especially as part of treatment or recovery.
- Base: abstinence
- Plural: abstinence
abstinence pledge
1promise not to have sex
a promise not to have sex, often before marriage.
- At the youth conference, some students signed an abstinence pledge.
- Years later, she said the abstinence pledge had not prepared her for a healthy relationship.
- The campaign encouraged teenagers to take an abstinence pledge.
- He signed an abstinence pledge.
- The pledge said they would not have sex before marriage.
abstinence-based treatment
1treatment requiring non-use
addiction treatment that aims for no use at all.
- The center offers abstinence-based treatment for people with alcohol dependence.
- Some patients prefer harm-reduction services to abstinence-based treatment.
- An abstinence-based program may require regular drug testing.
- He entered an abstinence-based treatment program.
- The program's goal is no drug use at all.
abstinence-only education
1sex education emphasizing abstinence
sex education that mainly tells students not to have sex.
- The district replaced abstinence-only education with a broader health curriculum.
- Critics argue that abstinence-only education leaves teenagers without practical information about contraception.
- Supporters of abstinence-only education say it reflects their community's values.
- Their school offered abstinence-only education.
- The new curriculum is not abstinence-only.
fasting and abstinence
1religious food restriction
a religious practice of eating less and not eating some foods.
- During Lent, many Christians observe days of fasting and abstinence.
- The rules on fasting and abstinence vary by tradition.
- The church published a guide to fasting and abstinence before the holiday.
- Friday was a day of fasting and abstinence.
- They did not eat meat during the period of abstinence.
neonatal abstinence syndrome
1newborn drug withdrawal
a medical problem in a baby who has withdrawal symptoms after being exposed to drugs before birth.
- The hospital has a unit for babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome.
- Public health workers track cases of neonatal abstinence syndrome linked to opioid exposure during pregnancy.
- Treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome may include careful feeding, comfort measures, and medication.
- The baby was treated for neonatal abstinence syndrome.
total abstinence
1complete avoidance
not doing or using something at all.
- For him, total abstinence from gambling was safer than setting limits.
- The doctor recommended total abstinence from alcohol while she was taking the medication.
- The program does not demand total abstinence from every participant.
- She chose total abstinence from alcohol.
- Total abstinence means no use at all.