- moderate or sparing, esp in the consumption of alcohol or food; temperate
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ab•ste•mi•ous /æbˈstimiəs/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- sparing and moderate in eating and drinking;
temperate: He was abstemious in his habits.
ab•ste•mi•ous
(ab stē′mē əs),USA pronunciation adj.
ab•ste′mi•ous•ly, adv.
ab•ste′mi•ous•ness, n.
- sparing or moderate in eating and drinking;
temperate in diet. - characterized by abstinence:an abstemious life.
- sparing:an abstemious diet.
- Latin abstēmius, equivalent. to abs- abs- + tēm- (base of tēmētum intoxicating drink) + -ius -ious
- 1615–25
ab•ste′mi•ous•ness, n.
- ascetic, abstinent, temperate, nonindulgent.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
abstemious /əbˈstiːmɪəs/ adj
'abstemious' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):