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

And whereas most gasoline is now blended with 10% ethanol, sustainable aviation fuel would use a 50% blend of ethanol. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 June 2024

Over five billion bushels of U.S. corn are now swallowed up in the making of ethanol, equal to 40 percent of the huge U.S. crop; a portion of the corn allocated to making ethanol could easily be diverted to exports. —Carlisle Ford Runge, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2022

However, the amount of alcohol — and the amount of pure ethanol people drink — seems to have a bigger impact on cancer risk than the type of alcohol consumed. —Isabella Cueto and J. Emory Parker, STAT, 27 June 2024

According to an autopsy report that was released three months after the discovery of his body, Strain’s cause of death was listed as drowning and ethanol intoxication. —Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 27 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

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