rubbing alcohol

noun

: a cooling and soothing liquid for external application that contains approximately 70 percent denatured ethanol or isopropanol

Examples of rubbing alcohol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Remove pests with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, and treat with neem oil. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026

Dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol and wipe the inside of the wax-holding vessel. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026

Mix ½ gallon of warm water, 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol, and 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap in a large container, then pour it into a spray bottle and apply it to icy surfaces to melt the ice. —Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026

To remove Sharpie from clothes, use a solvent like rubbing alcohol or acetone, and always test for colorfastness first. —Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 7 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rubbing alcohol

• chloramphenicol
• dithiothreitol
• geospatial
• isopropanol
• meridional
• paracetamol
• peroxisomal
• visuospatial
• aerosol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol

Kids Definition

rubbing alcohol

noun

: a cooling and soothing solution for use on the outside of the body that contains an alcohol and water

Medical Definition

rubbing alcohol

noun

rub·​bing alcohol ˈrəb-iŋ-ˌ 

: a cooling and soothing liquid for external application that contains approximately 70 percent denatured ethanol or isopropyl alcohol