tequila

American  

[tuh-kee-luh] / təˈki lə /

noun

1. a strong liquor from Mexico, distilled from fermented mash of an agave.

2. the plant itself, Agave tequilana.

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tequila British  

/ tɪˈkiːlə /

noun

1. a spirit that is distilled in Mexico from an agave plant and forms the basis of many mixed drinks

2. the plant, Agave tequilana, from which this drink is made

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Etymology

Origin of tequila

First recorded in 1840–50; after Tequila, a town in Jalisco, Mexico, a center for its production

Example Sentences

ETZATLÁN, Mexico — There are two sides to the town on Jalisco’s tequila trail.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

Spirits sales, on an organic basis, tumbled 9.3% in the U.S., which the company blamed on competitive pressure as well as category softness for tequila in particular, where net sales fell 23.1%.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 25, 2026

The group said it is facing mounting competition from cheaper brands in the United States, particularly in tequila, as consumers confront cost-of-living pressures.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

Similar to the Mojito, a mocktail Margarita, without any tequila, is purely a limeade.

From Salon • Jan. 18, 2026

He was working in a tequila factory and living in a two-bedroom house that had electricity and a water well.

From "The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child" by Francisco Jiménez