celibacy

/ˈsɛlɪbəsi/

/ˈsɛlɪbəsi/

When you abstain from sex, you're practicing celibacy.

Roman Catholic priests and nuns take a vow of celibacy, and the practice is not uncommon in other religions, too. The idea is often that sexual relations, marriage, and children are a distraction that keep you from fully devoting yourself to the spiritual life. You can also use celibacy more generally to refer to the state of being single or unmarried.

Definitions of celibacy

1. noun

   abstaining from sexual relations (as because of religious vows)
   synonyms: chastity, sexual abstention

   type of:

   abstinence

   act or practice of refraining from indulging an appetite
2. noun

   an unmarried status
   type of:

   condition, status

   a state at a particular time