ethanol

noun

eth·​a·​nol ˈe-thə-ˌnȯl  -ˌnōl 

British also ˈē-

: a colorless volatile flammable liquid C₂H₅OH that is the intoxicating agent in liquors and is also used as a solvent and in fuel

called also ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol

Examples of ethanol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Today, more than 100 acres of Retter land, much of which used to grow corn for ethanol, now hosts solar panels for the Riverstart solar park ‒ a simple shift from one form of energy production to another. —Sophie Hartley, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026

Even using ethanol free fuel add a fuel stabilizer to keep the fuel from going stale. —Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2026

Garay Sanchez’s cause of death was officially listed as environmental hypothermia with a contributory cause of ethanol, commonly known as alcohol, use, wrote Associate Miami-Dade Medical Examiners Jusmita Saifullan and Nicholas Barna in her autopsy released to the Miami Herald on Wednesday. —Devoun Cetoute, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026

Iowa is the nation's top producer of both corn and ethanol. —Donnelle Eller, Des Moines Register, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ethanol

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• fireball
• gasohol
• guaiacol

Kids Definition

ethanol

noun

eth·​a·​nol ˈeth-ə-ˌnȯl 

-ˌnōl

: a colorless flammable easily evaporated liquid that is used to dissolve things and that is the substance in fermented and distilled liquors that can make one drunk

called also ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol

Medical Definition

ethanol

noun

eth·​a·​nol ˈeth-ə-ˌnȯl  -ˌnōl 

: a colorless volatile flammable liquid C₂H₅OH that is the intoxicating agent in liquors and is also used as a solvent

called also ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol

see alcohol sense 1