congener

noun

con·​ge·​ner ˈkän-jə-nər How to pronounce congener (audio) kən-ˈjē- How to pronounce congener (audio)
1
: a member of the same taxonomic genus as another plant or animal
2
: a person, organism, or thing resembling another in nature or action
the New England private schools and their congeners west of the AllegheniesOliver La Farge
3
: a chemical substance related to another
congeneric adjective
congenerous adjective

Examples of congener in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
According to research, dark liquors like bourbon and brandy contain higher levels of congeners, or the chemicals produced during the fermentation process that give an alcohol its distinctive taste, smell and color. Andee Tagle, NPR, 26 Nov. 2024 Pot stills retain more congeners—the compounds that give spirits their character. Emily Price, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024 Generally speaking, the more congeners an alcohol has, the worse the hangover is likely to be. Andee Tagle, NPR, 26 Nov. 2024 Still Austin slow proofs their whiskey to better retain the delicate balance between the oak, alcohol and congeners in their whiskey. Chris Perugini, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024 Choose light alcohol over darker alcohol, like bourbon, which has more congeners (naturally occurring compounds in alcohol) that may make hangover symptoms worse in some people.1 Have a glass of water between drinks to stay hydrated. Yuliya Klochan, Health, 15 June 2024 Pot stills result in a spirit that often contains a more complex mixture of congeners. Michael W. Crowder, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2023 Yeast fermentation yields other byproducts besides alcohol and carbon dioxide, including flavor compounds called congeners. Michael W. Crowder, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2023 Opt for clear liquor Clear liquors typically have fewer chemicals called congeners than the darker ones, Dr. Koob says. Samantha Lauriello, Health.com, 26 Aug. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Latin, of the same kind, from com- + gener-, genus kind — more at kin

First Known Use

circa 1736, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of congener was circa 1736

Dictionary Entries Near congener

Cite this Entry

“Congener.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/congener. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

congener

noun
con·​ge·​ner ˈkän-jə-nər How to pronounce congener (audio) kən-ˈjē- How to pronounce congener (audio)
variants also cogener
1
: a member of the same taxonomic genus as another plant or animal
2
: a chemical substance related to another
tetracycline and its congeners
congeneric adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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