1
a
: a usually iced drink of wine or distilled liquor mixed with flavoring ingredients
b
: something resembling or suggesting such a drink as being a mixture of often diverse elements or ingredients
a cocktail of remembered incidents and pure imagination—
Charlotte Low
Charlotte Lowa cocktail of herbicides
c
: a mixture of agents usually in solution that is taken or used especially for medical treatment or diagnosis
2
: an appetizer served as a first course at a meal
1
: of, relating to, or set aside for cocktails
a cocktail hour
2
: designed for semiformal wear
a cocktail dress
: a horse with its tail docked
Synonyms
Examples of cocktail in a Sentence
Noun (1)
an autopsy found a lethal cocktail of banned substances in the actor's body
Recent Examples on the Web
Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2025
Photo-Illustration: Wired Staff/Getty The night before president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, right-wing influencers celebrated with cocktails, dancing, and McDonald’s cheeseburgers passed around on platters.
—Makena Kelly, WIRED, 20 Jan. 2025
For a good cocktail, check out Little Nickel. As far as breweries go, Sabrina recommends Väsen in Scott's Addition.
—Laura Barrero, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025
In addition to being satisfyingly chewable, nugget ice instantly makes cocktails, fizzy drinks, limeades, and even plain water feel more fun and refreshing.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appétit, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for cocktail 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Nod and salute them with your Pusser's Painkiller cocktail.
ocean-grill.com; 1050 Beachland Blvd., Vero Beach, FL 32963; 772-231-5409
Get Breakfast At The Lemon Tree
This old-school café has been serving the community three meals a day since 1986.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2025
Photo-Illustration: Wired Staff/Getty The night before president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, right-wing influencers celebrated with cocktails, dancing, and McDonald’s cheeseburgers passed around on platters.
—Makena Kelly, WIRED, 20 Jan. 2025
For a good cocktail, check out Little Nickel. As far as breweries go, Sabrina recommends Väsen in Scott's Addition.
—Laura Barrero, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025
In addition to being satisfyingly chewable, nugget ice instantly makes cocktails, fizzy drinks, limeades, and even plain water feel more fun and refreshing.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appétit, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for cocktail
Articles Related to cocktail
Dictionary Entries Near cocktail
Cite this Entry
“Cocktail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cocktail. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
cocktail
noun
cock·tail
ˈkäk-ˌtāl 
: a mixture of agents usually in solution that is taken or used especially for medical treatment or diagnosis
a potent cocktail of antiretroviral drugs—Zia Jaffrey
Zia Jaffreychemotherapy cocktails to treat cancer—J. L. Swerdlow
J. L. SwerdlowLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share