whiskey

1 of 2

noun

whis·​key ˈ(h)wi-skē 

variants or whisky

plural whiskeys or whiskies

1

: a liquor distilled from fermented wort (such as that obtained from rye, corn, or barley mash)

2

: a drink of whiskey

Whiskey

2 of 2

communications code word

—used as a code word for the letter w

Examples of whiskey in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

When Father's Day rolls around, our shakers steer over to whiskey, tequilas, and classic cocktail recipes. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2024

This is a whiskey drink but by using light and fresh white whiskey, this wintery spirit shows its summery side. —Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2024

The whiskey distillery makes everything from scratch and invites you to try its straight rye, straight bourbon, and coastal forest gin in its cocktail bar every day of the week. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 28 Mar. 2024

Another Midwest-meets-Green Mountains bottling, this bourbon whiskey from the single-cask series, spent six years aging in a 53-gallon new American oak barrel (two years in Vermont). —Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

The first two Heritage Collection whiskeys can be found online from secondary retailers for more than thousand bucks at the moment, which is getting into Pappy territory. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 17 Mar. 2024

Those joining the festivities, can now raise a glass of nonalcoholic whiskey or Guinness. —Liam Stack, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024

Detroit Shamrock Festival 2024 Festivities for this St. Patrick’s Day party will include 15 DJs, live music, dancing, Irish beer, whiskey, food trucks and vendors — all under a giant heated tent. Noon-10 p.m. Saturday at 401 Gratiot Ave. —Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 14 Mar. 2024

Near the couple, investigators found more than $6,000 in cash, four cell phones turned off, clothing, bank envelopes, an empty bottle of whiskey and more, crime scene investigator William Creer of the Detroit Police testified. —Nicki Brown, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Irish uisce beatha & Scottish Gaelic uisge beatha, literally, water of life

First Known Use

Noun

1715, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Communications Code Word

1952, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing whiskey

• corn whiskey
• blended whiskey
• Irish whiskey
• whiskey sour
• rye whiskey
• malt whiskey

Kids Definition

whiskey

noun

whis·​key

variants or whisky

ˈhwis-kē 

ˈwis-

plural whiskeys or whiskies

: an alcoholic liquor made from grain (as rye, corn, or barley)

Etymology

Noun

from uisce beatha, a phrase in Irish (the ancient language of Ireland) and isuge beatha, a phrase in Scottish Gaelic (the ancient language of Scotland), both meaning literally "water of life"

Medical Definition

whiskey

noun

whis·​key

variants or whisky

ˈhwis-kē, ˈwis- 

plural whiskeys or whiskies

: a liquor that is distilled from the fermented mash of grain (as rye, corn, or barley) and was formerly used medicinally as a sedative and vasodilator