Bourbon

American  

[boor-buhn, bawr-, bohr-, boor-bawn, bur-buhn] / ˈbʊər bən, ˈbɔr-, ˈboʊr-, burˈbɔ̃, ˈbɜr bən /

noun

1. a member of a French royal family that ruled in France 1589–1792, Spain 1700–1931, and Naples 1735–1806, 1815–60.

2. Charles Constable de Bourbon, 1490–1527, French general.

3. a person who is extremely conservative or reactionary.

4. Also called bourbon whiskey.  (lowercase) a straight whiskey distilled from a mash having 51 percent or more corn: originally the corn whiskey produced in Bourbon County, Kentucky.

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Bourbon ¹ British  

/ burbɔ̃, ˈbʊəbən /

noun

1. 1. a member of the European royal line that ruled in France from 1589 to 1793 (when Louis XVI was executed by the revolutionaries) and was restored in 1815, continuing to rule in its Orleans branch from 1830 until 1848. Bourbon dynasties also ruled in Spain (1700–1808; 1813–1931) and Naples and Sicily (1734–1806; 1815–1860)

   2. ( as modifier )

      the Bourbon kings

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bourbon ² British  

/ ˈbɜːbən /

noun

1. a whiskey distilled, chiefly in the US, from maize, esp one containing at least 51 per cent maize (the rest being malt and rye) and aged in charred white-oak barrels

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Etymology

Origin of bourbon

C19: named after Bourbon county, Kentucky, where it was first made

Explanation

Bourbon is a type of barrel-aged whiskey made in Kentucky. This is a strong, but popular, type of liquor. Bourbon may be French in origin, but the whiskey bearing this name is all-American: it’s named for Bourbon County, Kentucky. Bourbon isn't the kind of alcohol you can drink a pint of, like beer. Bourbon has a strong, bitter taste and it's very high in alcohol. Bourbon is made from corn, malt, and rye, and it's aged in barrels: this adds to the taste and potency. Visitors to Kentucky love to tour bourbon distilleries.

Example Sentences

Inside, you’ll find a lively lobby, two restaurants — including Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak — an onsite spa and a pool, more than enough to keep you occupied.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026

There’s even a tiny pop/rock subgenre of songs based on Anne Rice’s vampire novels: Sting’s “Moon Over Bourbon Street,” Annie Lennox’s “Love Song for a Vampire,” and Concrete Blonde’s “Bloodletting.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026

“If you liked him talking about horses for 10 minutes, maybe you’ll enjoy ‘The Bourbon Set,’” Gaffigan said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 1, 2025

Last year, he sold out three headlining gigs at L.A.’s biannual Netflix Is a Joke Festival — two shows at the Belasco Theater and one at the Bourbon Room.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2025

“I couldn’t possibly. It’s taken me three hours to tell Mary and Lois—and I haven’t got them off Bourbon yet. Little girls shouldn’t stay up that late.”

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham

Related Words

• alcohol
• drink
• liquor
• spirits