alcoholic

[al-kuh-haw-lik, -hol-ik]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or of the nature of alcohol.

   The fermented milk has a mildly alcoholic flavor.

2. containing or using alcohol.

   The bar serves beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages.

3. caused by alcohol.

   alcoholic fermentation.

4. of or like a person with alcoholism or alcohol use disorder.

   She hadn’t seen or spoken to her alcoholic aunt in over a decade.

5. preserved in alcohol.

   Tissue shrinking in alcoholic specimens did not affect nuclear composition.

noun

1. Sometimes Offensive.,  a person with alcoholism or alcohol use disorder; a person addicted to intoxicating drinks: Prescription medications are available to help alcoholics get sober and stay that way.

   He’s a self-described alcoholic.

   Prescription medications are available to help alcoholics get sober and stay that way.

alcoholic

/ ˌælkəˈhɒlɪk /

noun

1. a person affected by alcoholism

adjective

1. of, relating to, containing, or resulting from alcohol

Sensitive Note

See addict.

Other Word Forms

• alcoholically adverb
• semialcoholic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of alcoholic¹

First recorded in 1780–90; alcohol + -ic

Synonym Study

See inebriate.

Example Sentences

And fruity martinis fit perfectly into this cultural moment: drinks that feel like cocktails but don’t taste aggressively alcoholic.

Read more on Salon

I was raised by an alcoholic father, at times on government assistance.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"In our country, there are no alcoholic drinks," said Ahmed Mohammed, 18, as he set down his empty mug.

Read more on Barron's

The UK Foreign Office has added a further 11 countries to its list warning of the risks of methanol poisoning from tainted alcoholic drinks.

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He also became a boozer, enough of one to qualify as an alcoholic.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• hard 
• spirituous