abstinence

/ˈæb.stɪ.nəns/

//ˈæb.stɪ.nəns// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"abstinence" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“abstinence” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #22,875 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#22,875
frequency rank, English
10
letters
16
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.

Key facts for abstinence
PropertyValue
Headwordabstinence
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈæb.stɪ.nəns/
Letters10
Frequency rank#22,875
Misspellings tracked16
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “abstinence” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). abstinence lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for abstinence is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈæb.stɪ.nəns/. Corpus data places it at rank #22,875 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for abstinence, with forms such as "abbstinence", "absitnence", and "absstinence". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English abstinence, from Old French abstinence, from Latin abstinentia, from abstinēns, present participle of abstineō (“I withhold”). Equivalent to abstain + -ence. The correct English form is abstinence, spelled A-B-S-T-I-N-E-N-C-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.
  2. 2
    The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.
  3. 3
    The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.
  4. 4
    The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.
  5. 5
    The practice of self-denial; self-restraint; forebearance from anything.
  6. 6
    Self-denial; abstaining; or forebearance of anything.
  7. 7
    Delay of spending to accrue capital.

Etymology

From Middle English abstinence, from Old French abstinence, from Latin abstinentia, from abstinēns, present participle of abstineō (“I withhold”). Equivalent to abstain + -ence.

This word in other languages

vigilia(Español)abstinence(Français)Enthaltsamkeit(Deutsch)abstinência(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: abbstinence,absitnence,absstinence,abstiennce,abstinance,abstinecne,abstinencce,abstinenec,abstinennce,abstinnece,abstinnence,abstnience,absttinence,abtsinence,asbtinence,bastinence

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of abstinence - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

abbstinence1absitnence2absstinence1abstiennce2abstinance1abstinecne2abstinencce1abstinenec2
Edit distance from "abstinence"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "abstinence"?
"abstinence" is spelled A-B-S-T-I-N-E-N-C-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈæb.stɪ.nəns/.
What does "abstinence" mean?
As a noun, "abstinence" means: The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.
What are common misspellings of "abstinence"?
Common misspellings include "abbstinence", "absitnence", "absstinence", "abstiennce", "abstinance". The correct spelling is "abstinence".
How do you pronounce "abstinence"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "abstinence" is /ˈæb.stɪ.nəns/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "abstinence"?
From Middle English abstinence, from Old French abstinence, from Latin abstinentia, from abstinēns, present participle of abstineō (“I withhold”). Equivalent to abstain + -ence. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “abstinence”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is A-B-S-T-I-N-E-N-C-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈæb.stɪ.nəns/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list