Teetotal: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when someone completely avoids alcoholic beverages.

• He has been teetotal since he left college.
• She made a commitment to a teetotal lifestyle after witnessing the negative effects of alcohol on her family.

Generally used to describe someone who refrains from indulgence, not limited to alcohol. Can refer to abstention from various pleasures, such as food, sex, or drugs. Often carries a more formal tone.

• During the religious fast, she was completely abstinent from all forms of indulgence.
• The program encouraged an abstinent lifestyle to recover from addiction.

Describes someone who is not affected by alcohol. It can also mean serious or grave in demeanor.

• He promised to stay sober during the company party.
• She gave a sober assessment of the current political situation.

Refers to moderation in all things, not just alcohol. Largely implies self-restraint and balance in behavior or consumption.

• His diet is temperate, allowing him to enjoy sweets in moderation.
• They lived a temperate life free from excesses.

This word is mainly used to describe someone who completely abstains from all alcoholic drinks, often as a personal or moral choice.

• She has been teetotal since she was 20 years old.
• John’s teetotal lifestyle includes avoiding even social drinking.

This term is more general and can refer to someone who abstains from any substance or activity, not just alcohol. The term doesn't specifically imply a moral stance.

• As an abstainer, he doesn’t smoke or drink.
• The conference saw both drinkers and abstainers in attendance.

This word is used to describe someone who does not drink alcohol. It is a neutral term and doesn’t imply any particular philosophy or reasoning.

• He's a non-drinker, so he opted for soda at the party.
• Many restaurants now cater to non-drinkers with a variety of non-alcoholic beverages.

This term is often used for someone who promotes the reduction or elimination of alcohol consumption in society. It’s more formal and historically associated with temperance movements.

• She became a temperance advocate after witnessing the negative effects of alcohol on her community.
• As a temperance advocate, he gives speeches about the dangers of excessive drinking.