incontinence

noun

in·​con·​ti·​nence (ˌ)in-ˈkän-tə-nən(t)s How to pronounce incontinence (audio)
: the quality or state of being incontinent
We may reasonably trust … that public sobriety will reassert itself over the political and intellectual incontinence that currently commands the headlines.Woody West
: such as
a
: inability of the body to control the evacuative functions of urination or defecation : partial or complete loss of bladder or bowel control
fecal incontinence
urinary incontinence
see also stress incontinence, urge incontinence
b
: failure to restrain sexual appetite
It is true that the religion of the missionaries has … effected some good. It has restrained the vices of theft and incontinence.Herman Melville

Examples of incontinence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Pregnancy and postpartum: Throughout pregnancy, women are at greater risk for obstructive sleep apnea and incontinence, both of which greatly impact sleep quality and duration. Barbara Rhoden, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 For prostate cancer, men who receive treatments can experience distressing side-effects such as impotence and incontinence, significantly affecting their quality of life. Victoria Forster, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Complex logistics, emergency room visits, medications, incontinence, repetition, and aggression became my life. Chloe Bottero, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2024 Prostate cancer can sometimes cause erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, according to the Mayo Clinic, causing deep shame for some men. USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2024 Many of the pooches have heart disease, incontinence, blindness and other health issues. Sydney Page, Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2023 But for people with spinal cord injuries or neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis, a brain-bladder disconnect can cause infections, incontinence and other unpleasant symptoms. Emily Matchar, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Jan. 2024 With radical prostatectomy, the risks also include UTI, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, narrowing of the urethra or bladder neck, or formation of cysts containing lymph, according to the Mayo Clinic. Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2024 In dogs, for example, too much THC can cause side effects like incontinence, lethargy, paranoia, vomiting and a coma-like state. Rachel Nuwer, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'incontinence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of incontinence was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near incontinence

Cite this Entry

“Incontinence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incontinence. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

incontinence

noun
in·​con·​ti·​nence (ˈ)in-ˈkänt-ᵊn-ən(t)s How to pronounce incontinence (audio)
: the quality or state of being incontinent

Medical Definition

incontinence

noun
in·​con·​ti·​nence (ˈ)in-ˈkänt-ᵊn-ən(t)s How to pronounce incontinence (audio)
1
: inability or failure to restrain sexual appetite
2
: inability of the body to control the evacuative functions
fecal incontinence
see stress incontinence, urge incontinence
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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