alcohol
Americannoun
-
alcohols
plural
-
Also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, ethanol, fermentation alcohol. a colorless, limpid, volatile, flammable, water-miscible liquid, C 2 H 5 OH, having an etherlike odor and pungent, burning taste, the intoxicating principle of fermented liquors, produced by yeast fermentation of certain carbohydrates, as grains, molasses, starch, or sugar, or obtained synthetically by hydration of ethylene or as a by-product of certain hydrocarbon syntheses: used chiefly as a solvent in the extraction of specific substances, in beverages, medicines, organic synthesis, lotions, tonics, colognes, rubbing compounds, as an automobile radiator antifreeze, and as a rocket fuel.
-
whiskey, gin, vodka, or any other intoxicating liquor containing this liquid.
-
Chemistry. any of a class of chemical compounds having the general formula ROH, where R represents an alkyl group and –OH a hydroxyl group, as in methyl alcohol, CH 3 OH, or ethyl alcohol, C 2 H 5 OH.
noun
-
Also called: ethanol, ethyl alcohol. a colourless flammable liquid, the active principle of intoxicating drinks, produced by the fermentation of sugars, esp glucose, and used as a solvent and in the manufacture of organic chemicals. Formula: C 2 H 5 OH
-
a drink or drinks containing this substance
-
chem any one of a class of organic compounds that contain one or more hydroxyl groups bound to carbon atoms. The simplest alcohols have the formula ROH, where R is an alkyl group Compare phenol See also diol triol
-
Any of a large number of colorless, flammable organic compounds that contain the hydroxyl group (OH) and that form esters with acids. Alcohols are used as solvents and for manufacturing dyes, perfumes, and pharmaceuticals. Simple alcohols, such as methanol and ethanol, are water-soluble liquids, while more complex ones, like cetyl alcohol, are waxy solids. Names of alcohols usually end in –ol.
-
Ethanol.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of alcohol
1535–45; < New Latin < Medieval Latin < Arabic al-kuḥl the powdered antimony, the distillate
Compare meaning
How does alcohol compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Alcohol is a distilled or fermented drink that can make you drunk. Beer, wine and vodka are all kinds of alcohol. Scientifically, alcohol is a liquid made up of distilled hydrocarbons that's also known as ethyl alcohol or ethanol — the same stuff found in solvents and car fuel. At the bar, alcohol is something you drink (as long as you're at least 21). Alcoholic beverages like whiskey and lager are produced by the fermentation of yeast, sugar and starches and have the power to make a person intoxicated.
Vocabulary lists containing alcohol
English Food and Drink Words Derived from Arabic
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Chemistry - High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Chemistry - Middle School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Presbyterian firebrands such as the late Ian Paisley later tried to make it even harder to get a drink, calling alcohol “the devil’s buttermilk.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
Instead, negotiations broke down and new trade actions — like the ban on Canadian alcohol that starts Tuesday — have been rolled out by each side.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026
The highest costs of the tariffs will be concentrated within a few industries, including auto and other manufacturing, dairy, and alcohol and spirits, said Alex Durante, a senior economist at the Tax Foundation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
When UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham embarked on his trip to the United Nations in New York, he might not have been expecting a question about football fans drinking alcohol in grounds.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
He pulled out the thorn and swabbed Matt’s foot with rubbing alcohol.
From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer
Hydrocarbons and chemical compounds like industrial alcohols and plastics accounted for the bulk of Tehran's exports to Beijing.
From Barron's ● Jan. 13, 2026
What is becoming clear, however, is that the long-held assumption that sugar alcohols, also known as polyols, are simply eliminated without harm may not be accurate.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 17, 2025
Deducting the value of fiber and sugar alcohols from the total carbohydrate content of a food gives what's considered its net carb value.
From Salon ● Feb. 29, 2024
There are also polyols or sugar alcohols - erythritol particularly has gained traction in recent years.
From BBC ● Dec. 14, 2023
Many of these fractions, the sugars and starches, the alcohols and acids, the emulsifiers and stabi lizers with the strange names, will be made into food.
From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan
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.
