teetotal

[ tee-toht-l, tee-toht-l ]

adjective

1. of or relating to, advocating, or pledged to total abstinence from intoxicating drink.
2. Informal. absolute; complete.

verb (used without object)

, tee·to·taled, tee·to·tal·ing or (especially British) tee·to·talled, tee·to·tal·ling.

1. to practice teetotalism.

teetotal

/ tiːˈtəʊtəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or practising abstinence from alcoholic drink
2. dialect.
   complete

Derived Forms

• teeˈtotalism, noun
• teeˈtotally, adverb
• teeˈtotaller, noun

Other Words From

• tee·total·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of teetotal¹

Reduplicated variant of total, coined by R. Turner, of Preston, England, in 1833, in a speech advocating total abstinence from alcoholic drinks

Word History and Origins

Origin of teetotal¹

C19: allegedly coined in 1833 by Richard Turner, English advocate of total abstinence from alcoholic liquors; probably from total , with emphatic reduplication

Example Sentences

These individual choices are part of an overarching social shift making, as NPR put it, “teetotaling trendy.”

From Salon

Whether teetotaling, temperance or virgin, they’re just drinks, after all — though I suppose their intricacy beyond fresh-squeezed juice demands we label them something nobler.

From Salon

"For me it was important that once I retired from international netball I didn't just go teetotal and stop completely. I really wanted that transition out," Mentor told BBC Sport.

From BBC

Several ministers have indeed distanced themselves from the call for a teetotal month, saying they preferred to encourage moderation rather than an outright booze-fast.

From BBC

Mr Sunak, who is teetotal, has previously expressed a passion for the fizzy drink.

From BBC