Meaning & use
temperance movement
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Meanings
nounsingular
A social and political campaign that urged people to drink little or no alcohol, strongest in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Grammar: Usually takes the definite article: the temperance movement. It can be used with a plural verb if you mean similar groups in different countries.
Patterns
- the temperance movement
- join the temperance movement
- the temperance movement in a country
The temperance movement persuaded many towns to ban the sale of alcohol.
In the 1890s, the temperance movement gained support from churches and women's groups.
Historians study the temperance movement to understand changing attitudes to drinking.
nounsingular
The organized groups and activists that made up this campaign.
Grammar: Can be used to refer to the people involved rather than the campaign itself; often with the.
Patterns
- the temperance movement
- support the temperance movement
- the temperance movement's goals
The temperance movement included both religious reformers and doctors.
She wrote pamphlets for the temperance movement.
The temperance movement split over whether to support total prohibition.
Common combinations
- the temperance movement
- The temperance movement was especially strong in rural areas.
- join the temperance movement
- He joined the temperance movement after his brother's death from drink.
- a leader of the temperance movement
- She became a leader of the temperance movement in her state.
- the rise of the temperance movement
- The rise of the temperance movement changed local politics.
- temperance movement activists
- Temperance movement activists marched with banners through the town.
Synonyms and how they differ
- prohibition movement
- This is similar but more specific: it refers especially to the campaign to make alcohol illegal, while the temperance movement also promoted moderation.
- teetotal movement
- This emphasizes complete abstinence; the temperance movement sometimes accepted moderate drinking.
- anti-alcohol campaign
- A modern, general term; use it for current efforts, not for the historical movement.
Word family
- temperance noun
- The practice of drinking little or no alcohol; also the quality of self-control.
- temperance society noun
- A local group that promoted temperance and organized meetings and pledges.
- temperance hotel noun
- A hotel that did not serve alcohol, common in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Commonly confused: temperance movement or temperance? temperance movement or prohibition?
temperance movement vs temperance
Temperance is the idea or practice; the temperance movement is the organized campaign to promote it.
temperance movement vs prohibition
Prohibition usually means the legal ban on alcohol (especially in the US 1920–1933); the temperance movement worked for moderation or bans.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'temperance movement' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The temperance movement was a campaign against alcohol, so encouraging people to drink less fits. Option 2 is wrong because the movement opposed drinking, not taught cocktail-making. Option 3 is wrong because it was not a dance. Option 4 is wrong because it is not a physical object you can buy.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “temperance movement”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.