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

However, the Pernambuco project represents one of the most ambitious attempts yet to move ethanol beyond transportation and into the electricity sector. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 2 June 2026

Corn exports reflect demand for ethanol. —Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 31 May 2026

But there is little coherent logic in preserving farm subsidies and ethanol mandates in the agriculture bill while reducing nutritional support for pregnant women and toddlers. —Sam Raus, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 May 2026

After that, it was transferred to a 95% ethanol solution for storage, to be catalogued and saved in the collection of the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 25 May 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