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

When washed with ethanol, the hydrogel appeared transparent, hiding the image entirely. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026

Her family grew corn for ethanol, soy for soybean oil, and hay for cattle, encouraged by agricultural policies that favored those crops. —Sarah Todd, STAT, 6 Feb. 2026

Iowa is the nation's largest ethanol producer, using about half the annual corn crop to make the renewable fuel. —Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 27 Jan. 2026

Nunn was among several midwestern Republicans who wanted a concrete path forward on year-round sales of 15% ethanol, or E15. —Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 22 Jan. 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