cola
noun
a carbonated soft drink containing an extract made from kola nuts or an artificial imitation, together with sweeteners and other flavorings.
cola
1 American
[koh-luh]
/ ˈkoʊ lə /
noun
cola
2
American
[koh-luh]
/ ˈkoʊ lə /
noun
cola
3
American
[koh-luh]
/ ˈkoʊ lə /
noun
COLA
4
American
[koh-luh]
/ ˈkoʊ lə /
noun
COLA
1
British
abbreviation
-
cost of living adjustment: an increase in benefit payments according to the rate of inflation
-
cost of living allowance: extra money paid to workers in areas where the cost of living is more expensive
cola
2
British
/ ˈkəʊlə /
noun
-
either of two tropical sterculiaceous trees, Cola nitida or C. acuminata, widely cultivated in tropical regions for their seeds See cola nut
-
a sweet carbonated drink flavoured with cola nuts
cola
3
British
/ ˈkəʊlə /
noun
Etymology
Origin of cola
First recorded in 1885–90; spelling variant of kola, extracted from the trademark names of such drinks, as Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, etc.
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:
Coca-Cola technicians secretly concocted a sweeter, smoother cola.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
Research reviews show caffeine from coffee, cola, energy drinks, and chocolate can raise systolic blood pressure by 3-15 and diastolic blood pressure by 4-13 after consumption.
From Science Daily ● May 18, 2026
For instance, PepsiCo has its own namesake prebiotic cola with fiber, which it made available nationwide in February.
From MarketWatch ● May 10, 2026
As for Coca-Cola’s rivals, both PepsiCo and Dr. Pepper have been selling their versions of cola sweetened with cane sugar in the U.S. since 2009.
From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2025
The bubbling cola spills out all over the table and the floor.
From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott
What’s the real-world impact of a nine-basis-point difference in COLA?
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026
Energy markets and oil prices also play an important role in influencing the COLA.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
Johnson’s estimates are usually spot on with regard to the actual COLA.
From Barron's ● Mar. 11, 2026
The COLA, which amounts to an average additional $56 to a beneficiary’s monthly check, will be mostly offset by an expected increase in Medicare premiums that are automatically deducted from Social Security payments.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 31, 2025
The consumer-price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, known as CPI-W, is used to determine the annual COLA.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 24, 2025
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.
