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

Sweat itself is mostly water and salt, with some potassium and magnesium and small amounts of glucose, ethanol, hormones and other compounds mixed in. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2026

Brazilian mills can typically shift their production mix between sugar and ethanol, depending on which is more profitable. — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 6 Sep. 2026

Only ethanol is safe to drink, but some counterfeit producers may dilute it with methanol. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 31 Aug. 2026

The alcohol that generally makes a person feel drunk is ethanol, but adult beverages often contain small quantities of methanol, which build up while the ethanol is being processed by the body. — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ethanol

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• cortisol
• fireball
• gasohol
• gossypol
• 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