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

The vast majority are not for biodiesel or ethanol — the fuel mixed with petroleum for use in cars in parts of the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia. —Nithin Coca, semafor.com, 23 Apr. 2026

The $200 million plant is the world’s first designed to produce commercial green jet fuel from ethanol, using patented Alcohol-to-Jet technology. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 22 Apr. 2026

Tru-Fuel is a premixed ethanol free fuel. —John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026

It’s not typically used during the summer months because of concerns the higher ethanol concentration can worsen smog. —News Service Of Florida, Sun Sentinel, 14 Apr. 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