whiskey

noun whis·key \ ˈhwi-skē , ˈwi- \

variants: or whisky

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of whiskey

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

See whiskey defined for English-language learners

See whiskey defined for kids

Recent Examples of whiskey from the Web

Jim Chovick is adorably understated a Selsdon, a famous but hard-drinking actor who keeps disappearing with a whiskey bottle.

— pam kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Fleet-footed 'Noises Off' shines in its fluidity, laughs," 15 Apr. 2018
Gin, rum, vodka, tequila and whiskey cost you 97 calories per 1.5 fluid ounces, but that's without mixers.

— sandee lamotte, CNN, "What too much alcohol can do to your health," 13 Apr. 2018
The bar, with its suave whiskey mezzanine, is richly atmospheric, too.

— baltimoresun.com, "Best of Baltimore 2018: Dining & nightlife," 11 Apr. 2018
Texas icon Matthew McConaughey just made life a little better by introducing a new whiskey flavor.

— daniela sternitzky-di napoli, Houston Chronicle, "Alright, alright, alright: Texas icon Matthew McConaughey introduces new whiskey flavor," 11 Apr. 2018
Lady of Lavender 2 ounces whiskey 1 ounce P&L Old Fashioned Birthday Cake 2 ounces ginger beer .5 ounce honey syrup (1:1) 1 teaspoon lime juice Fill glass with ice.

— birmingham magazine, AL.com, "Birmingham Food News: Ramen, rolled ice cream, and cajun," 10 Apr. 2018
Another muddled mint-laden concoction is the whiskey smash, invented by 19th century barman Harry Johnson.

— kevin hopper, idahostatesman, "Natural cocktail flavors abound with the use of a muddler | Idaho Statesman," 10 Apr. 2018
Part of the goal of Rolling Fork Spirits is to help whiskey drinkers appreciate rum.

— julia thiel, Chicago Reader, "Booze / Food & Drink How a warehouse foul-up led to Fortuitous Union, a high-end rum-whiskey blend," 9 Apr. 2018
Taxman’s special festival release is Evasion, a rich, robust Belgian-style stout aged with Indonesian vanilla beans in Kentucky-whiskey barrels.

— liz biro, Indianapolis Star, "The best Indianapolis food and drink events in April," 2 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'whiskey.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of whiskey

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

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First Known Use: 1715

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Alcoholic Beverage Terms

finish, gimlet, mull, sake, setup, sommelier, syllabub, vintner, wassail

Whiskey

communications code word

Definition of Whiskey

—used as a code word for the letter w

First Known Use of whiskey

1952

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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WHISKEY Defined for English Language Learners

whiskey

noun

Definition of whiskey for English Language Learners

: a strong alcoholic drink made from a grain (such as rye, corn, or barley)

WHISKEY Defined for Kids

whiskey

noun whis·key

variants: or whisky \ˈhwi-skē, ˈwi-\

Definition of whiskey for Students

plural whiskeys or whiskies

: a strong alcoholic drink usually made from grain (as of rye or barley)

Medical Dictionary

whiskey

noun whis·key

variants: or whisky play \ˈhwis-kē, ˈwis-\

medical Definition of whiskey

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