alcohol by volume

noun

: a measure of the concentration of alcohol in an alcoholic beverage

Last year, lawmakers passed a bill to allow those stores to start selling stronger beer, with up to 6 percent alcohol by volume, starting April 1, 2019.

—Peter Hancock

By law bourbon must be distilled at no higher than 160 proof (out of a potential 190; proof is double the percentage of alcohol by volume), but most bourbon makers distill at between 125 and 145.

—Corby Kummer

—abbreviation ABV

Examples of alcohol by volume in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Simply place your bottle of vodka, rum, tequila—any spirit with more than 40% alcohol by volume (ABV) or 80 proof—in the freezer. —Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2025

Alcoholic beverages must be below 20% alcohol by volume and no glass containers are allowed. —Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025

Proof is simply double the alcohol by volume (ABV). —Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

Aim for a wine that has less than 12.5% alcohol by volume (ABV). —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for alcohol by volume

• multivolume