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rubbing alcohol

American

noun

a poisonous solution of about 70 percent isopropyl or denatured ethyl alcohol, usually containing a perfume oil, used chiefly in massaging.

rubbing alcohol British

noun

a liquid usually consisting of 70 per cent denatured ethyl alcohol, used by external application as an antiseptic or rubefacient

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of rubbing alcohol

First recorded in 1925–30

Compare meaning

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

isopropyl alcohol vs. rubbing alcohol

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:

rubbing alcohol

Officials said that several children outside in a patio area were roasting marshmallows on a device called Flikr Fire, a tabletop fireplace kit that uses rubbing alcohol for fuel and was recalled in 2024.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

But a quick perusal shows that most of these are simple, familiar chemicals that are allowed for very specific reasons, like hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol as disinfectants for equipment.

From Salon ● Jan. 2, 2025

Be sure to wash the bitten area and your hands with either rubbing alcohol or soap and water.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 16, 2023

He then returns with rubbing alcohol and the police help carry the protester away as members of the crowd shout "move!"

From Reuters ● May 1, 2023

The office smelled like peppermint and rubbing alcohol.

From "Louisiana's Way Home" by Kate DiCamillo

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023