# temperance vs temperate

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### temperance
*noun · IPA /ˈtɛmpəɹəns/ · frequency rank #24,019*
Habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions; restrained or moderate indulgence.

### temperate
*adjective · IPA /ˈtɛmpəɹət/ · frequency rank #18,969*
Moderate; not excessive.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/temperance-vs-temperate