rum
noun
an alcoholic liquor or spirit distilled from molasses or some other fermented sugar-cane product.
Showing results for rum.
Search instead for
rums.
rum
1 American
[ruhm]
/ rʌm /
noun
-
an alcoholic liquor or spirit distilled from molasses or some other fermented sugar-cane product.
-
alcoholic drink in general; intoxicating liquor.
He warned against the demon rum.
rum
2
American
[ruhm]
/ rʌm /
adjective
Chiefly British Informal.
-
odd, strange, or queer.
a rum fellow.
-
problematic; difficult; bad.
a rum situation.
rum
3
American
[ruhm]
/ rʌm /
noun
Cards.
Rum
4
American
[r oom]
/ rum /
noun
rum
1
British
/ rʌm /
noun
rum
2
British
/ rʌm /
adjective
rum
3
British
/ rʌm /
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of rum1
First recorded in 1645–55; perhaps short for obsolete rumbullion, rumbustion, of obscure origin
Origin of rum2
First recorded in 1750–60; earlier rome, room “great,” of uncertain origin; perhaps from Romani; see Rom
Origin of rum3
An Americanism dating back to 1870–75; by shortening
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:
On this score, it’s a welcome development if tech investors are acting in part on a growing conviction that Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh intends to pour less rum into the punchbowl.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Before launching his presidential bid, De la Espriella lived in Florence, Italy, where he dabbled in opera, jetted around in private planes and promoted his rum and wine businesses.
From Barron's ● May 25, 2026
Inside was Venezuelan rum for the men and straw beach bags and chocolate for the women.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 24, 2026
On Thursday, Seedat told the inquiry he was not aware "red rum" was a reference to murder.
From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026
I kept hoping that some officers would come into the tavern for rum or beer or something to eat.
From "My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
“And Donn’s drinks were stories. Rum from all these different places, and spices and fruits. It opens up a world of locations.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2026
Further history for I Am Maximus was made by him becoming the first top weight at 11st 12lbs to win since Red Rum carried 12 stone to victory in 1974.
From BBC ● Apr. 11, 2026
At the Pirates’ fan site Rum Bunter, Emma Lingan wrote: “Fandom isn’t a streaming subscription you cancel when the content gets bad.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 22, 2025
Josh Friedman is the chief executive of Dr. Squatch, a maker of products like Bay Rum soap and Pine Tar “Odor Squatching” deodorant, which was acquired by Unilever this year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 27, 2025
The Rum War was the result—an ongoing battle at sea and along the shores.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
Son of a Manhattan hotel owner, Ben Bates evolved his philosophy of an elegant life when, as a boy, he watched his father's daily ritual in preparing punch from Medford Rum.*
From Time Magazine Archive
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
