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.

Cold packs, antibacterial products, hair dye, rubbing alcohol, nail polish, hand sanitizer.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 18, 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

If you’re using 70 percent rubbing alcohol, mix 7 teaspoons with at least 3 teaspoons of water.

From Washington Post • Aug. 29, 2022

You can also scrub down the chainstays, chain rings, cranks and cogs, but you'll want to use a rotor cleaner or rubbing alcohol to clean the brake pads and rotors.

From Salon • Aug. 9, 2022

The stench of human waste, urine, rotting wounds, and strong rubbing alcohol surrounds me, permeating my clothes, skin, and hair.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung

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