Bourbon
noun
a member of a French royal family that ruled in France 1589–1792, Spain 1700–1931, and Naples 1735–1806, 1815–60.
Bourbon
American
[boor-buhn, bawr-, bohr-, boor -bawn, bur-buhn]
/ ˈbʊər bən, ˈbɔr-, ˈboʊr-, burˈbɔ̃, ˈbɜr bən /
noun
-
a member of a French royal family that ruled in France 1589–1792, Spain 1700–1931, and Naples 1735–1806, 1815–60.
-
Charles Constable de Bourbon, 1490–1527, French general.
-
a person who is extremely conservative or reactionary.
-
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.
Bourbon
1
British
/ burbɔ̃, ˈbʊəbən /
noun
bourbon
2
British
/ ˈbɜːbən /
noun
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
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:
It was first mentioned in 1740 in an inventory of Louis Henri de Bourbon, Prince of Condé, drawn up following his death, the Château de Chantilly said.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
He was initially tested for Lyme, and it wasn’t until a monthslong antibody study that the Bourbon virus—so far found in only a handful of cases nationwide—was finally pinpointed as the culprit.
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026
"It's very energetic, very chaotic," said Melanie Mendoza, a waitress at the Bourbon and Branch, a bar not far from the iconic Garden that is fully decked out in the team's colors.
From Barron's ● Jun. 7, 2026
Banished by the restored Bourbon monarchy, David went into exile in Brussels in January 1816.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 29, 2025
When they were still well out from shore, a pilot boat came to meet the Henry, and the pilot conducted them to anchorage a mile off Bourbon.
From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham
Both Collins’ and Graham’s offices denied receiving bourbon.
From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026
A 45-year-old lawyer from Santa Monica, he booked us at a bourbon bar, Grain, in Playa del Rey after I told him I liked Manhattans.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
He added: "We were able to partner with the bourbon industry in the United States, raise the issue with President Trump in the Oval Office, and get this issue on his agenda."
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
The American whiskey market isn’t making things easier, as producers fight softening demand and an overabundance of product, particularly bourbon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
Now that all his good ole boy, tough bourbon talk has evaporated, I wonder if he’s this pathetic all the time.
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
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