sobriety

noun

so·​bri·​ety sə-ˈbrī-ə-tē 

sō-

: the quality or state of being sober

Synonyms

• earnest
• earnestness
• graveness
• gravity
• intentness
• serious-mindedness
• seriousness
• soberness
• solemnity
• solemnness
• staidness

Examples of sobriety in a Sentence

They did a sobriety test on him.

the sobriety of the situation

Recent Examples on the Web

No sobriety tests taken on Pino FWC investigators were also quick to rule out drinking despite the more than 60 empty alcohol bottles and cans found on the boat when it was pulled from the water the day after the crash. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2025

The mission was inspired by his sister Shelby Kitsch-Best's sobriety journey. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 22 Jan. 2025

Lucy Lee Howard, an advocate for sobriety in the recovering alcoholism community, died of a coronary event Jan. 5. —Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 17 Jan. 2025

The pilot was unable to maintain balance during the sobriety test and was unable to follow the tip of the officer's pen with only his eyes and instead moved his neck and his head, according to the incident report. —Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sobrete, from Anglo-French sobreté, from Latin sobrietat-, sobrietas, from sobrius

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sobriety

noun

so·​bri·​ety sə-ˈbrī-ət-ē 

: the quality or state of being sober