drinking game

noun

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

Definition of drinking game

: a game in which players drink alcohol when particular conditions are met

Drinking games have always been a way to break the ice. They weren't all that popular in my circle of friends, but I do remember occasional games of Beer-Pong, in which cups of beer are placed on a Ping-Pong table where they serve as both obstacles and receptacles: land a shot in one and your opponent has to chug the contents.
—Barrett Seaman

Recent Examples of drinking game from the Web

The Presidential Personnel Office was portrayed in a recent Washington Post article as a frat house, with widespread workplace vaping and happy-hour drinking games involving Smirnoff Ice.

— jonathan mahler, New York Times, "How One Conservative Think Tank Is Stocking Trump’s Government," 20 June 2018
Also ideal for a Bachelor-watching drinking game during rose ceremonies, or as a last-minute Valentine's Day gift when all the actual roses are sold out.

— alyse whitney, Bon Appetit, "Rosé Vodka Is Here, Just in Time for Valentine's Day," 1 Feb. 2018
But Americans are lightweights in any worldwide drinking game, based on numbers from the World Health Organization.

— sandee lamotte, CNN, "What too much alcohol can do to your health," 13 Apr. 2018
Burke admitted to being present for and actively encouraging a series of drinking games with Piazza and other fraternity pledges, prosecutors said.

— darran simon, CNN, "Guilty plea entered in the hazing death of Penn State University fraternity pledge," 13 June 2018
At least, until a certain book came out, and strangers started showing up as part of a peculiar drinking game.

— john carlisle, Detroit Free Press, "Father, son bond writing U.P. bars book and it becomes a cult classic," 10 June 2018
Although the celebration took place Frogmore House, one of the Queen's royal residences, there was clearly some American influences on the party, even in the form of college drinking games.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Serena Williams Played Beer Pong at the Royal Wedding Reception and Obviously Crushed Everyone," 21 May 2018
In a lot of ways, the drinking game came to define the series, with its extremely specific humor, bizarre references, and unabashed, youthful fun.

— refinery29.com, "Why We Should Have All Seen The New Girl Series Finale Twist Coming," 16 May 2018
But so were time, dignity, childhoods, selfies, songs and a New Year’s Eve allegedly culminating at Drake’s mansion. Thematic audacity came this close to being a drinking game.

— wesley morris, New York Times, "‘Atlanta’ Skips a Grade," 11 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'drinking game.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.