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

Some will ask why this temperance with blowing should be limited. —Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 27 Oct. 2024

Hartley connected his temperance and milk crusades in An Essay on Milk from 1842, arguing that milk produced in cities was impure not just because of its adulteration by contaminants like formaldehyde, but also because of its sourcing from urban swill sheds. —Catherine Long, JSTOR Daily, 17 Jan. 2024

Nowhere is this clearer than in the history of the temperance movement whose advocacy led to Prohibition. —Elizabeth Marshall / Made By History, TIME, 23 Oct. 2024

The temperance look feels like a reaction against a beauty standard drifting away from whiteness; in other words, it is related to the death of Kardashianism, where even the sisters appear to be lightening their tans and slimming their backsides. —Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2024

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