self-denial

UK: /ˌsɛlfdɪˈnaɪəl/ US: (self′di nī′əl, self′-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ˈself-deˈni•al,  n. [uncountable]

1. the act of giving up or holding back one's own desires;
   unselfishness.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

self-de•ni•al  (self′di nī′əl, self′-), n. 

1. the sacrifice of one's own desires;
   unselfishness.
2. an act or instance of restraining or curbing one's desires:
   To reduce, one has to practice self-denial at the dinner table.

• 1635–45

self′-de•ny′ing, adj. 
self′-de•ny′ing•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

self-denial noun

1. the denial or sacrifice of one's own desires

ˌself-deˈnying adjective