Of a person: that drinks water, esp. in preference to alcoholic drinks.

Of or pertaining to total abstinence from alcoholic drinks; pledged to, or devoted to the furtherance of, total abstinence.

colloquial (originally U.S.). In various expressions referring to abstinence from alcoholic drink, esp. in on the water wagon (cf. later on the wagon…

Figurative phrases. on the wagon: abstaining from alcoholic drink, teetotal. See on the water wagon at water wagon, n. 1b originally U.S.

Used as predicative.adj. Practising or advocating total abstinence.

Committed to or advocating total abstinence; teetotal. Cf. pussyfoot cocktail at sense B. 2b. Now rare.

Of a person: abstaining completely from alcoholic drink. Now somewhat rare.

teetotal, a teetotaller.