gin

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈjin 

1

: a colorless alcoholic beverage made from distilled or redistilled neutral grain spirits flavored with juniper berries and aromatics (such as anise and caraway seeds)

2

a

: gin rummy

b

: the act of laying down a full hand of matched cards in gin rummy

ginny

ˈjin-ē 

adjective

gin

2 of 5

noun (2)

ˈjin 

: any of various tools or mechanical devices: such as

a

: cotton gin

b

: a snare or trap for game

gin

3 of 5

verb (1)

ˈjin 

ginned; ginning

transitive verb

1

: to come up with : generate

—usually used with up

gin up enthusiasm

2

: to separate (cotton fiber) from seeds and waste material

3

: snare

ginner noun

gin

4 of 5

conjunction

ˈgin 

dialect

: if

gin

5 of 5

verb (2)

ˈgin 

gan ˈgan  ; ginning

archaic

: begin

Examples of gin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This refers to gin that is juniper-forward, and the botanicals used to flavor the gin during distillation—no color or flavor can be added afterwards. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 24 June 2025

As a bonus, the verdant flavor of the tomatoes mingles well with the botanical notes of the gin. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 22 June 2025

Verb

At the same time, the Crawford campaign and Wisconsin Democrats have used anger against Musk as a way to gin up their base in the off-year spring election. —Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 1 Apr. 2025

There were tickets available to LAFC’s match against Esperance Sportive de Tunisie in Nashville on June 20 for $24.45. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has traveled to several host cities to gin up enthusiasm. —Anne M. Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

by shortening & alteration from geneva

Noun (2)

Middle English gin, from Anglo-French, short for engin — more at engine entry 1

Conjunction

perhaps by contraction from dialect gif if + an if

Verb (2)

Middle English ginnen, short for beginnen

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1713, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Conjunction

1580, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gin

• bathtub gin
• cotton gin
• gin mill
• gin rummy
• sloe gin

Rhymes for gin

• been
• bin
• chin
• din
• djinn
• fin
• finn
• grin
• in
• kin
• linn
• linne

Kids Definition

gin

1 of 3 noun

ˈjin 

: cotton gin

gin

2 of 3 verb

ginned; ginning

: to separate (cotton fiber) from seeds and waste material

ginner noun

gin

3 of 3 noun

: a clear strong alcoholic liquor flavored with juniper berries

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gin "a mechanical device, skill, trick," from early French engin (same meaning), from Latin ingenium "natural ability or desire to do something, inborn ability," from in "in" and -genium, from gignere "to father, beget" — related to engine, genius, ingenious

Noun

an altered form of earlier geneva "gin (liquor)," from obsolete Dutch genever, literally, "juniper"