alcoholic

1 of 2

adjective

al·​co·​hol·​ic ˌal-kə-ˈhȯ-lik 

-ˈhä-

1

a

: of, relating to, or caused by alcohol

an alcoholic odor

b

: containing alcohol

an alcoholic beverage

2

: affected with alcoholism

alcoholically

ˌal-kə-ˈhȯ-li-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈhä-

adverb

alcoholic

2 of 2

noun

: a person affected with alcoholism

Synonyms

Noun

• drunk
• drinker
• drunkard

Examples of alcoholic in a Sentence

Adjective

a slightly more alcoholic wine

She has an alcoholic uncle.

Noun

Her uncle is an alcoholic.

one can be a social drinker without turning into an alcoholic

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The chemical is sometimes added to alcoholic drinks to cut costs. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025

Its Cantina format, typically found in cities, features a custom menu, alcoholic beverages and seating meant to encourage customers to linger. —Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025

Noun

At the time, the filmmaker felt Hawke was too young to begin production; Hart was a longtime alcoholic and Blue Moon focuses on a specific moment near the end of the songwriter’s life, just months before his death at the age of 48 following a pneumonia diagnosis. —Kyle McGovern, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025

This is a man who is the child of two alcoholics. —Fortune Editors, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1852, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for alcoholic

• anabolic
• apostolic
• catabolic
• cytosolic
• diabolic
• diastolic
• ethanolic
• hyperbolic
• melancholic
• metabolic
• methanolic
• parabolic

Kids Definition

alcoholic

1 of 2 adjective

al·​co·​hol·​ic ˌal-kə-ˈhȯl-ik 

-ˈhäl-

1

: of, relating to, or containing alcohol

2

: affected with alcoholism

alcoholically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

alcoholic

2 of 2 noun

: a person affected with alcoholism

Medical Definition

alcoholic

1 of 2 adjective

al·​co·​hol·​ic ˌal-kə-ˈhȯl-ik, -ˈhäl- 

1

a

: of, relating to, or caused by alcohol

alcoholic hepatitis

b

: containing alcohol

2

: affected with alcoholism

alcoholically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

alcoholic

2 of 2 noun

: one affected with alcoholism