cider

American  

[sahy-der] / ˈsaɪ dər /

British, cyder

noun

1. the juice pressed from apples (or formerly from some other fruit) used for drinking, either before fermentation sweet cider or after fermentation hard cider, or for making applejack, vinegar, etc.

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cider British  

/ ˈsaɪdə /

noun

1. Also called (US): hard cider.  an alcoholic drink made from the fermented juice of apples

2. Also called: sweet cider.  an unfermented drink made from apple juice

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Other Word Forms

• ciderish adjective
• ciderlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of cider

1250–1300; Middle English sidre < Middle French < Old French si ( s ) dre < Late Latin sīcera strong drink < Septuagint Greek sī́kera < Hebrew shēkhār (Levit. 10:9); replacing Middle English sithere < Old French sidre

Example Sentences

Mahan recalled growing up in Watsonville, an agricultural community that is the home of Driscoll’s berries and Martinelli’s apple cider.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

According to Alpha News, the syringe allegedly used in the attack by the suspect, Anthony Kazmierczak, was filled with apple cider vinegar.

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2026

To spice up your dry Moscow Mule, try combining ginger beer and lime juice with a non-alcoholic sparkling cider.

From Salon • Jan. 18, 2026

We listened to Christmas music while making gingerbread and sipping cranberry apple cider.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

The sweet scent of apple cider greets me as I enter the house.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer