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ethanol

American  
[eth-uh-nawl, -nol] / ˈɛθ əˌnɔl, -ˌnɒl /

noun

Chemistry.

  1. alcohol.

ethanol British  
/ ˈiːθə-, ˈɛθəˌnɒl /

noun

  1. the technical name for alcohol

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
ethanol Scientific  
/ ĕth′ə-nôl′ /

  1. An alcohol obtained from the fermentation of sugars and starches or by chemical synthesis. It is the intoxicating ingredient of alcoholic beverages, and is also used as a solvent, in explosives, and as an additive to or replacement for petroleum-based fuels. Also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol. Chemical formula: C 2 H 6 O.

ethanol Cultural  

  1. Another name for ethyl alcohol.

Etymology

Origin of ethanol

First recorded in 1895–1900; ethane + -ol 1

Compare meaning

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Explanation

Ethanol is a chemical, a specific type of alcohol. When sugar ferments, as when grapes are made into wine, ethanol is created. Isopropyl alcohol, commonly known as "rubbing alcohol," is poisonous, but ethanol can be safely consumed by most people in small quantities. It's clear and colorless, and highly flammable. In addition to being a component of all alcoholic beverages, ethanol is also an alternative fuel source. The word ethanol is a contraction of ethane, a chemical compound, and alcohol.

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Vocabulary lists containing ethanol

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency issued temporary waivers to allow the sale of E15, a gas blend that contains more ethanol and is cheaper than regular unleaded, to help ease rising fuel prices.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

Typically, sales of the gas are restricted during the summer due to the volatility of ethanol and its contribution to smog, but the Farm Bureau maintains that new studies show the blend is non-polluting.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026

Increased blends of renewable diesel probably won’t immediately impact American drivers, though higher ethanol contents in gas could help.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

With governments scrambling to find alternative sources of fuel, Zimbabwe has said it will increase the amount of ethanol it uses in its petrol, from 5% to 20%.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

He didn’t know why and never found out; instead, Charlie bought two rail cars’ worth of ethanol futures, and made headlines in Ethanol Today, a magazine of whose existence he was previously unaware.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.