gluttony
C2Formal, Literary, Theological
Definition
Meaning
Habitual greed or overindulgence in food and drink.
Excessive indulgence in any activity or desire, often to the point of causing harm or waste; a lack of self-restraint.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strongly associated with moral/religious condemnation (one of the seven deadly sins). Implies a habitual, excessive, and often self-destructive pattern, not a single instance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. Both use the term identically.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries strong moral/religious connotations. Possibly more readily used in theological contexts in the US due to higher prevalence of religious discourse.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both varieties, but relatively higher in formal, literary, or religious contexts. Understood by all educated speakers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + gluttony (e.g., 'practise', 'indulge in', 'be guilty of')Gluttony + [Prepositional Phrase] (e.g., 'gluttony for punishment', 'gluttony for work')Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A glutton for punishment (someone who persistently engages in arduous or unpleasant tasks)”
- “A glutton for work”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. May be used metaphorically in critiques of corporate excess or consumer culture (e.g., 'the gluttony of the holiday shopping season').
Academic
Common in religious studies, philosophy, ethics, and literature when discussing morality, vice, or historical attitudes toward consumption.
Everyday
Infrequent. Used humorously or hyperbolically after a large meal (e.g., 'I'm full—that was pure gluttony!').
Technical
Specific term in Christian theology as one of the seven capital vices/deadly sins.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- One should not gluttonise during the festive season.
American English
- He tends to gluttonize at all-you-can-eat buffets.
adverb
British English
- He ate gluttonously, barely pausing for breath.
American English
- They consumed the holiday treats gluttonously.
adjective
British English
- His gluttonous appetite was legendary in the office.
American English
- The gluttonous feast left everyone in a food coma.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Eating the whole cake was an act of gluttony.
- The film shows the gluttony of the rich king.
- Medieval writers often condemned gluttony as a deadly sin that led to other vices.
- His gluttony for online shopping left him with massive credit card debt.
- The theologian's treatise analysed how spiritual gluttony—the excessive pursuit of religious ecstasy—could hinder genuine piety.
- The critic denounced the artist's retrospective as a gluttonous display of self-indulgence, lacking any editorial restraint.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GLUT of food on your plate that makes you say, 'OH, NEE!' as you realise you've eaten too much. GLUT + OH NEE = GLUTTONY.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESIRE IS HUNGER / EXCESS IS A BURDEN / SELF-INDULGENCE IS A MORAL FALL
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'глотка' (throat). The Russian ближайший equivalent is 'обжорство', but 'gluttony' is a more formal, morally charged term than the everyday 'обжорство'. 'Чревоугодие' is the direct theological equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'gluttony' to describe a single large meal (it implies a habit). Confusing it with 'glut' (an oversupply). Misspelling as 'gluttonny'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the MOST accurate description of 'gluttony'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes, but it is commonly extended metaphorically to any form of excessive indulgence or insatiable desire (e.g., 'a glutton for punishment', 'gluttony for power').
'Greed' is a broader, more general desire for wealth or possessions. 'Gluttony' is a specific type of greed focused on overconsumption, typically of food and drink. Greed is for acquisition; gluttony is for consumption.
Yes, though this is informal. After a large holiday meal, one might say jokingly, 'That was an exercise in gluttony!' However, its core meaning remains negative.
The adjective is 'gluttonous'. The related noun for a person who engages in gluttony is a 'glutton'.