1
a
: a usually iced drink of wine or distilled liquor mixed with flavoring ingredients
b
: something resembling or suggesting such a drink as being a mixture of often diverse elements or ingredients
… a cocktail of remembered incidents and pure imagination …—
Charlotte Low
Charlotte Lowa cocktail of herbicides
c
: a mixture of agents usually in solution that is taken or used especially for medical treatment or diagnosis
2
: an appetizer served as a first course at a meal
1
: of, relating to, or set aside for cocktails
a cocktail hour
2
: designed for semiformal wear
a cocktail dress
: a horse with its tail docked
Examples of cocktail in a Sentence
Noun (1)
an autopsy found a lethal cocktail of banned substances in the actor's body
Recent Examples on the Web
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2026
Toast to warm weather with this bright and boozy cocktail.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
My family spent many weekend mornings here, but during the pandemic, my husband and I would occasionally get fancy takeout food and cocktails and eat at one of the private picnic tables by the light of a camping lantern.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Craft cocktails are also on the menu, as are homemade desserts.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cocktail
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Later head to the very chic Charlie’s Rooftop bar for a cocktail and nightly live DJ sets, with incredible views over Rome.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2026
Toast to warm weather with this bright and boozy cocktail.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
My family spent many weekend mornings here, but during the pandemic, my husband and I would occasionally get fancy takeout food and cocktails and eat at one of the private picnic tables by the light of a camping lantern.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Craft cocktails are also on the menu, as are homemade desserts.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cocktail
Cite this Entry
“Cocktail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cocktail. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
cocktail
noun
cock·tail
ˈkäk-ˌtāl 
: a mixture of agents usually in solution that is taken or used especially for medical treatment or diagnosis
a potent cocktail of antiretroviral drugs—Zia Jaffrey
Zia Jaffreychemotherapy cocktails to treat cancer—J. L. Swerdlow
J. L. SwerdlowLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
