tequila

noun

te·​qui·​la tə-ˈkē-lə 

tā-

plural tequilas

: a Mexican liquor made chiefly from the fermented sap of the blue agave that has been subjected to two separate distillations

Tequila is a form of mezcal that enjoys a regional appellation—it must be produced in Tequila, Jalisco (a state in Mexico), entirely from the nectar from the blue agave plant.

—Justin Grant

The most important difference between fine tequila and ordinary tequila is that the good stuff is made from 100 percent blue agave—the desert succulent that is pressure cooked, then fermented.

—Food & Wine

Note: Tequila is often distinguished from other mezcals because it can only be made from the blue agave and has more restrictive guidelines regarding its production.

"We're going to offer wine, beer, cocktails, a lot of tequila and mezcal, and margaritas on tap," said [bar] owner Patrick Todd.

—Jordyn Noennig

Examples of tequila in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

British Vogue reports that the evening's entertainment included tequila cocktails crafted by maid-of-honour Portia Freeman; and music from Alan Power & The Take Twos, and later, three DJs: Harriet Rose, Jimmy Napes and Alfie Goff. —Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 27 June 2025

My teenage blackout | 2024 | France | Basile Khatir | At a party, Tristan swallowed a caterpillar while downing a tequila shot. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 25 June 2025

George Clooney sold his Casamigos tequila business for $1 billion in 2017, showing there is money to be made for stars who can shift product. —Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025

This third annual edition will also have live DJ music, beer, premium tequila cocktails, margaritas and lawn games. —Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 21 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Tequila, town in Jalisco state, Mexico

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tequila

• tequila sunrise

Rhymes for tequila

• drosophila
• philomela
• sheila

Kids Definition

tequila

noun

te·​qui·​la tə-ˈkē-lə 

tā-

: a Mexican liquor made from the fermented juice of an agave