alcoholic

1 of 2

adjective

al·​co·​hol·​ic ˌal-kə-ˈhȯ-lik How to pronounce alcoholic (audio)
-ˈhä-
1
a
: of, relating to, or caused by alcohol
an alcoholic odor
b
: containing alcohol
an alcoholic beverage
2
: affected with alcoholism
alcoholically adverb

alcoholic

2 of 2

noun

: a person affected with alcoholism

Examples of alcoholic in a Sentence

Adjective a slightly more alcoholic wine She has an alcoholic uncle. Noun Her uncle is an alcoholic. one can be a social drinker without turning into an alcoholic
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
And although ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages have vastly improved in recent years, there’s still nothing like the real thing. Ronnie Koenig, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 There will be prizes and giveaways, with free gin and alcoholic kombucha samplings, and a tailgating atmosphere that might not exist again at the Coliseum after 2024. Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2024 Basic economy passengers are served the same meal as those in Main Cabin; alcoholic beverages can be purchased. Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2024 Advertisement On Wednesday, practicing Catholics fast, abstain from eating meat (on every Friday for six weeks afterward as well) and choose a favorite food or pursuit, such as candy or alcoholic beverages, to avoid for 40 days. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2024 Cash seems to be a decent sort, still mourning his sister who died of a drug overdose and watching over his alcoholic brother-in-law Finney (Scott Haze, bringing the role surprising depths) and teenage niece Savannah (Chapel Oaks, Will Trent) who’s clearly learned to fend for herself. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2024 The sweetly alcoholic aroma of the brandy is ever apparent alongside the fresh, floral thyme. Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2024 Most notably, alcoholic beverages are free for Comfort+ passengers. Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2024 Meanwhile, other members of the group order several alcoholic beverages, which in Los Angeles aren’t cheap. Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2024
Noun
The Ordinary Angels true story centers around Sharon, an alcoholic seeking greater purpose in her life, and Ed, a recent widower left to take care of his two daughters and a massive amount of medical bills, with his youngest in dire need of a liver transplant. Jeff Conway, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Cole stole the show at the 2023 Honda Classic, losing in a playoff to Chris Kirk, a recovering alcoholic on his own personal journey. Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2024 The mixture ferments over a period of days or weeks, turning alcoholic as the yeast eats the sugar, then ferments again, over some months, becoming vinegar. Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024 His biological father was an alcoholic who had trouble with the law. Matthew Rosenberg, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2024 Most dramas about alcoholics follow a personal trajectory, typically following a struggling protagonist down the spiral of booze, ending with tentative sobriety and tenuous recovery. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2024 So that’s one self-destructive alcoholic and one violent misogynist echoing through Ken’s Christmas single. Vulture, 25 Dec. 2023 Alexandra, who agreed to describe her experience on condition that she be identified only by first name, spent 20 months in a center outside Moscow with about 60 other people, mainly drug addicts and alcoholics, which was staffed by former residents, who doled out punishments. Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2023 Washington, who was down on his luck and an alcoholic as his counsel later told the court, was staying with Mizell’s sister at the time. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alcoholic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of alcoholic was in 1789

Dictionary Entries Near alcoholic

Cite this Entry

“Alcoholic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alcoholic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

alcoholic

1 of 2 adjective
al·​co·​hol·​ic ˌal-kə-ˈhȯl-ik How to pronounce alcoholic (audio)
-ˈhäl-
1
: of, relating to, or containing alcohol
2
: affected with alcoholism
alcoholically adverb

alcoholic

2 of 2 noun
: a person affected with alcoholism

Medical Definition

alcoholic

1 of 2 adjective
al·​co·​hol·​ic ˌal-kə-ˈhȯl-ik, -ˈhäl- How to pronounce alcoholic (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or caused by alcohol
alcoholic hepatitis
b
: containing alcohol
2
: affected with alcoholism
alcoholically adverb

alcoholic

2 of 2 noun
: one affected with alcoholism

More from Merriam-Webster on alcoholic

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