alcohol use disorder

[ al-kuh-hawl yoos dis-awr-der, ‐-hol ]

noun

, Pathology, Psychiatry.

1. a chronic relapsing disorder characterized by alcohol abuse or dependence, as compulsive use of alcoholic beverages, the development of physical or psychological symptoms upon reducing or ceasing intake, and decreased ability to function socially and professionally. : AUD

Word History and Origins

Origin of alcohol use disorder¹

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Yet those numbers were below rates of alcohol use disorder across all age groups in 2020’s survey.

From FiveThirtyEight

And for the roughly 18 million Americans with some kind of alcohol use disorder, it can be terribly difficult to quit.

From The Daily Beast