ginger ale

American  

noun

1. a carbonated soft drink flavored with ginger extract.

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ginger ale British  

noun

1. a sweetened effervescent nonalcoholic drink flavoured with ginger extract

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Etymology

Origin of ginger ale

First recorded in 1835–45

Compare meaning

How does ginger-ale compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• ginger ale vs. ginger beer

Example Sentences

The son would respond, “a double,” and then take his ginger ale.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Ilya passes Shane his signature ginger ale across the counter and says, “You like tuna melt?”

From Salon • Feb. 15, 2026

Everything made my stomach turn—water, crackers, a hopeful sip of ginger ale; the things you’re supposed to try when you are sick.

From Slate • Sep. 15, 2024

If you approach everything as if it has meaning — misspelled signs, toilet figurines, the differences between 7-Up and ginger ale — well, then it does.

From New York Times • Aug. 31, 2023

Turner and Lizzie went to the icebox to get a ginger ale.

From "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary D. Schmidt