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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.


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

"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 tequila

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

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.

Mezcal is a distilled drink made from agave, the same plant group used to produce tequila.

From Science Daily • Apr. 26, 2026

Diageo put its premium Don Julio 1942 extra Añejo tequila into 50 mL containers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 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

In the U.S. spirits market, Diageo’s portfolio has a bias toward premium—particularly in tequila where 70% of its units sell for above $45, compared with 35% for the broader market, Lewis said.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

“If Jesus Christ himself walked into my bar and ordered a shot of blackberry brandy or tequila, I wouldn’t make fun of him,” Tranquilino said.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

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