alcohol by volume

noun

: a measure of the concentration of alcohol in an alcoholic beverage

Last year, lawmakers passed a bill to allow those stores to start selling stronger beer, with up to 6 percent alcohol by volume, starting April 1, 2019.

—Peter Hancock

By law bourbon must be distilled at no higher than 160 proof (out of a potential 190; proof is double the percentage of alcohol by volume), but most bourbon makers distill at between 125 and 145.

—Corby Kummer

—abbreviation ABV

Examples of alcohol by volume in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Simply place your bottle of vodka, rum, tequila—any spirit with more than 40% alcohol by volume (ABV) or 80 proof—in the freezer. —Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 29 Nov. 2024

This spritz recipe skips the liqueur or aperitif to keep it very low-ABV (alcohol by volume). —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2024

However, recent trends indicate a shift toward lower ABV (alcohol by volume) cocktails, with the wet martini emerging as a popular alternative. —Rachel King, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024

Examples of beers that might benefit from aging include some stouts, and beers with higher ABV (alcohol by volume) that are made with dark malts. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above