fizz

[ fiz ]

verb (used without object)

1. to make a hissing or sputtering sound; effervesce.

noun

1. a fizzing sound; effervescence.
2. soda water or other effervescent water.
3. an iced mixed drink made of liquor, lemon juice, sugar, and soda:

   gin fizz.

4. British Informal. champagne.

fizz

/ fɪz /

verb

1. to make a hissing or bubbling sound
2. (of a drink) to produce bubbles of carbon dioxide, either through fermentation or aeration

noun

1. a hissing or bubbling sound
2. the bubbly quality of a drink; effervescence
3. any effervescent drink

Derived Forms

• ˈfizzy, adjective
• ˈfizziness, noun

Other Words From

• fizzer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fizz¹

First recorded in 1655–65; back formation from fizzle

Word History and Origins

Origin of fizz¹

C17: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Both players were important at the start, injecting fizz into an urgent cause.

From Washington Post

For open bottles of bubbly, go for a sparkling wine-specific topper, as they can help the fizz go on for up to two days instead of 24 hours.

From Popular-Science

Hike to Bumpass Hell from Cold Boiling Lake—where bubbles rise like soda fizz—along a five-mile trail.

From Outside Online

There is also pétillant-naturel, a rebirth of an old-style sparkling wine that simply completes fermentation in the bottle to capture some carbon dioxide and create a mild fizz.

From Washington Post

We also have two more kosher wines for Passover — a rich, spicy red from Israel and a refreshing fizz from South Africa.

From Washington Post

The bubbles still came out, but some of the fizz was getting lost.

From The Daily Beast

But the fizz in Brazil and Turkey has yet to go flat, and the excitement and turmoil may well continue to spread across the globe.

From The Daily Beast

Summer is here, people are thinking about vacation, and the fizz has fizzled.

From The Daily Beast

The Tea Party in the United States still operates within the system, but its base is full of fizz and is a political force.

From The Daily Beast

“This is a take on a Ramos Gin Fizz but done as a ‘bomb,’” Maloney explains.

From The Daily Beast

I shall give 'em real turtle from Birch's, and as for fizz, they shall swim in it if they like.

From Project Gutenberg

There's nothing like fizz, it makes 'em all so friendly; and as for music, I've secured Toot and Kinney.

From Project Gutenberg

The fizz water must have something of the sort of thing that old Ponce de Leon sought.

From Project Gutenberg

So your Seltzer water doesn't pour fast enough to fizz outside the bottle, and your heart is sad.

From Project Gutenberg

Silver Fizz rushed in, hoping to stop him, Morris and Hank closely following his lead.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Fizz

What does fizz mean?

Fizz is a bubbliness or bubbly quality, like the kind in a carbonated drink. A much more formal word for this is effervescence.

Fizz can also refer to the kind of hissing sound that such bubbliness makes or to the kind of drink that’s known for having fizz, like soda (pop), seltzer, and soda water (which is sometimes called fizzwater).

More specifically, the word fizz can refer to an alcoholic mixed drink containing liquor, fruit juice, sugar, and club soda. A classic example is a gin fizz.

Fizz is also a British slang term for champagne, which is known for bubbliness (it’s sometimes called bubbly for the same reason).

Fizz can also be used as a verb meaning to make a bubbling or hissing noise or to produce bubbles, as in That soda bottle may fizz a bit when you open it. 

Something that’s bubbly or fizzing can be described with the adjective fizzy.

Example: I like how the fizz tickles my nose as I’m drinking.

Where does fizz come from?

The first records of the word fizz come from the 1600s. It’s a shortening of the word fizzle, which comes from the Old Norse fīsa, meaning “to break wind.” It’s an example of onomatopoeia, which involves the formation of words in imitation of the sounds made by the things they refer to. Some synonyms of fizz are also examples of onomatopoeia, such as hiss and buzz.

Things can fizz or contain fizz for different reasons. It’s commonly due to carbonation, which involves the addition of carbon dioxide or carbonic acid to produce those lovely little bubbles that pop and fizz. Fizzing sounds don’t just happen in drinks though—dripping water into a fire or a hot pan will result in fizzy noises as the water turns into steam.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to fizz?

• fizzy (adjective)
• fizziness (noun)
• fizzer (noun)

What are some synonyms for fizz?

• effervescence
• buzz
• effervesce
• fizzle
• froth
• hiss

What are some words that share a root or word element with fizz? 

• fizzle
• fizzwater

What are some words that often get used in discussing fizz?

• bubble
• carbonation
• crack
• drink
• soda
• pop
• sound
• water

How is fizz used in real life?

Fizz is an informal word. It’s especially associated with carbonated drinks.

phil and i spent an hour trying to find a squeaking mouse in our kitchen and it turned out to be a bottle of fanta slowly releasing its fizz

— Daniel Howell (@danielhowell) August 19, 2015

Opened my energy drink like 10 mins ago, and it JUST NOW started to fizz and bubble like crazy. The delayed force is strong with this one.

— Thomas Lister (@sayo) September 27, 2010

Beer alert: @LeftHandBrewing recalls Milk Stout Nitro, says foreign yeast put too much fizz in the bottle https://t.co/K22MSEWW4V

— The Denver Post (@denverpost) September 12, 2016

 

 

Try using fizz!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of fizz?

A. buzz
B. fizzle
C. flatten
D. froth