incontinent

1 of 2

adjective

in·​con·​ti·​nent (ˌ)in-ˈkän-tə-nənt 

: not continent: such as

a

: unable to voluntarily control retention of urine or feces in the body

b(1)

: lacking self-restraint

(2)

: not being under control

incontinent

2 of 2

adverb

: incontinently entry 1

Examples of incontinent in a Sentence

Adjective

special products for incontinent patients

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Next on the agenda, Your Grace would like to see Grover Tully, Lord of Riverrun, bend the knee to Rhaenyra (though presumably, this will be a metaphorical knee as Grover is understood to be somewhat mentally incapacitated and definitely incontinent). —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 30 June 2024

In a blunter mode, the romance novelist Jilly Cooper once named an incontinent goat for a reviewer who had savaged her work. —Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2023

After starting this treatment, the sanctuary determined that the kitten was incontinent. —Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2023

Recently, her dog was given a diagnosis of an incurable spinal tumor and then became incontinent. —Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin incontinent-, incontinens, from in- + continent-, continens continent

Adverb

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin in continenti

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

incontinent

adjective

in·​con·​ti·​nent

(ˈ)in-ˈkänt-ᵊn-ənt

1

: having or showing a lack of self-restraint or control

2

: unable to control keeping urine or feces in the body

incontinently adverb

Medical Definition

incontinent

adjective

in·​con·​ti·​nent (ˈ)in-ˈkänt-ᵊn-ənt 

: not continent

especially : unable to retain a bodily discharge (as urine) voluntarily