continence
/ˈkɒntɪnəns/noun
continence is spelled C-O-N-T-I-N-E-N-C-E: 10 letters. It appears about once in every 8 million words in written English, the 84,254th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, continence means “The voluntary control of urination and defecation” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of continence is continences.
How many letters and syllables are in continence?
| Letters | 10: C-O-N-T-I-N-E-N-C-E |
|---|---|
| In writing | about once in every 8 million words; the 84,254th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is continence?
Continence appears about once in every 8 million words in written English, the 84,254th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce continence?
- /ˈkɒntɪnəns/
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-continence.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of continence
- continences plural
- continency
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does continence mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The voluntary control of urination and defecation.
- 2
Moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence.
For quotations using this term, see Citations:continence.
- 3
Uninterrupted course; continuity.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Continence in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense voluntary control of urination and defecation:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| Spanish | continencia |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does continence come from?
Dated from the 14th century as Middle English contynence, from Old French continence, from Latin continentia (“a repression”). See also countenance.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).