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

Alternatively, create a natural bug spray using a mixture of 70% rubbing alcohol and water, or white vinegar and water. — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2026

To avoid this, clean up any fallen or infected leaves around your roses and use sharp, clean pruning shears, disinfecting them with rubbing alcohol between plants, says Harvell. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 5 July 2026

Always use clean, sharp snips or pruners and clean them with a bit of rubbing alcohol between plants to avoid spreading any diseases. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 July 2026

According to the department, the group had been roasting marshmallows on a Flikr Fire device, a tabletop fireplace fueled with rubbing alcohol, per NBC 7 San Diego and the LA Times. — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rubbing alcohol

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

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