gin

1 of 6

noun (1)

ˈjin 

1

: a colorless alcoholic beverage made from distilled or redistilled neutral grain spirits flavored with juniper berries and aromatics (such as anise and caraway seeds)

2

a

: gin rummy

b

: the act of laying down a full hand of matched cards in gin rummy

ginny

ˈjin-ē 

adjective

gin

2 of 6

noun (2)

ˈjin 

: any of various tools or mechanical devices: such as

a

: cotton gin

b

: a snare or trap for game

gin

3 of 6

verb (1)

ˈjin 

ginned; ginning

transitive verb

1

: to come up with : generate

—usually used with up

gin up enthusiasm

2

: to separate (cotton fiber) from seeds and waste material

3

: snare

ginner noun

gin

4 of 6

conjunction

ˈgin 

dialect

: if

gin

5 of 6

verb (2)

ˈgin 

gan ˈgan  ; ginning

archaic

: begin

ginny

6 of 6

adjective

ˈjinē 

-ni

often -er/-est

: of, suggesting, or affected with gin

a ginny smell

ginny hilarity

reports of ginny Village parties

—Joseph Mitchell

Examples of gin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Keep the punch virgin, or add a tablespoon of vodka, gin, or bourbon to each glass. —Ashlyn Ware, Midwest Living, 20 June 2026

Guests are encouraged to feel at home, with an honor-system apéro set-up for pouring champagne, mixing cocktails with local Citadelle gin, and snacking on sliced saucisson. —Caitlin Gunther, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 June 2026

Verb

Someone will realize the coffee is mostly gin. —Eddie Small, New Yorker, 18 June 2026

Church kept the press strategically apprised of his travel plans and his subsequent progress in the studio, ginning up excitement about forthcoming pictures. —Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 13 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

by shortening & alteration from geneva

Noun (2)

Middle English gin, from Anglo-French, short for engin — more at engine entry 1

Conjunction

perhaps by contraction from dialect gif if + an if

Verb (2) and Adjective

Middle English ginnen, short for beginnen

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1713, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Conjunction

1590, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gin

• bathtub gin
• cotton gin
• gin mill
• gin rummy
• sloe gin

Rhymes for gin

• been
• bin
• chin
• din
• djinn
• fin
• finn
• grin
• in
• kin
• linn
• linne

Kids Definition

gin

1 of 3 noun

ˈjin 

: cotton gin

gin

2 of 3 verb

ginned; ginning

: to separate (cotton fiber) from seeds and waste material

ginner noun

gin

3 of 3 noun

: a clear strong alcoholic liquor flavored with juniper berries

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gin "a mechanical device, skill, trick," from early French engin (same meaning), from Latin ingenium "natural ability or desire to do something, inborn ability," from in "in" and -genium, from gignere "to father, beget" — related to engine, genius, ingenious

Noun

an altered form of earlier geneva "gin (liquor)," from obsolete Dutch genever, literally, "juniper"