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
Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 7 Jan. 2026
The interface incorporates gamification elements such as badges, achievements, and cocktail discovery missions tied to different locations.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
Between flirty cocktails and a skillet full of molten cheese, Applebee’s latest offerings make a strong case for kicking off the year with comfort, color and a little extra fun.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
And of course, no Singapore drinking tour is complete without the city’s most recognizable cocktail.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cocktail
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Noun
Brunch, cocktails, pasta and sushi are all on the way, along with African cuisine, Middle Eastern sips, seafood and steaks.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 7 Jan. 2026
The interface incorporates gamification elements such as badges, achievements, and cocktail discovery missions tied to different locations.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
Between flirty cocktails and a skillet full of molten cheese, Applebee’s latest offerings make a strong case for kicking off the year with comfort, color and a little extra fun.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
And of course, no Singapore drinking tour is complete without the city’s most recognizable cocktail.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 6 Jan. 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 8 Jan. 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
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