Teetotal: meaning, definitions and examples

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teetotal

[ ˈtiːˌtəʊtl ]

^{Context #1}

lifestyle choice

abstaining completely from alcoholic drinks

Synonyms

abstinent, sober, temperate

Examples of usage

He has been teetotal for over a year now.
She decided to become teetotal after a bad experience with alcohol.

^{Context #2}

person who abstains from alcohol

a person who never drinks alcohol

Synonyms

abstainer, non-drinker, temperance advocate

Examples of usage

My grandfather is a teetotal and has never had a drop of alcohol in his life.
She proudly identifies as a teetotal and encourages others to do the same.

Translations

Translations of the word "teetotal" in other languages:

🇵🇹 abstêmio

🇮🇳 नशामुक्त

🇩🇪 abstinent

🇮🇩 teetotal

🇺🇦 тверезник

🇵🇱 abstynent

🇯🇵 禁酒主義者 (きんしゅしゅぎしゃ)

🇫🇷 abstinent

🇪🇸 abstemio

🇹🇷 içki içmeyen

🇰🇷 절제자

🇸🇦 ممتنع عن شرب الكحول

🇨🇿 abstinent

🇸🇰 abstinent

🇨🇳 戒酒者 (jièjiǔ zhě)

🇸🇮 abstinent

🇮🇸 bindindismaður

🇰🇿 ішімдік ішпейтін

🇬🇪 ლოთობისგან თავის არიდება (lotobisgan tavis arideba)

🇦🇿 içki içməyən

🇲🇽 abstemio

Word origin

The term 'teetotal' originated in the early 19th century as a result of the temperance movement, which advocated for the total abstention from alcoholic beverages. The word is believed to have been coined by Richard Turner, a member of the Preston Temperance Society in England. The prefix 'tee-' was added for emphasis, creating the word 'teetotal' to signify complete abstinence. The teetotal movement gained popularity and spread internationally, influencing attitudes towards alcohol consumption.