al·co·hol·ic
ˌal-kə-ˈhȯ-lik 
-ˈhä-
1
a
: of, relating to, or caused by alcohol
an alcoholic odor
b
: containing alcohol
an alcoholic beverage
2
: affected with alcoholism
: 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
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2025
Canned and bottled non-alcoholic beverages will also be available.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 11 Dec. 2025
Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Dec. 2025
His wife Lois founded Alateen, a group for the children of alcoholics, and co-founded Al-Anon Family Groups to help family members of alcoholics.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alcoholic
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Adjective
There’s a local doctor, Nat Sharp (Jeremy Renner), who has slipped into alcoholic despair since his wife left him, and Lee Ross (Andrew Scott), a best-selling author and self-professed recovering liberal, whose rightward drift has led him to write an unreadable book about Wicks’s life.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2025
Canned and bottled non-alcoholic beverages will also be available.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 11 Dec. 2025
Noun
The new movie will chronicle the horrific origin story of Haymitch Abernathy (played by Joseph Zada), the beloved, curmudgeonly alcoholic who served as a reluctant mentor to Katniss and Peeta in the franchise's first four films.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Dec. 2025
His wife Lois founded Alateen, a group for the children of alcoholics, and co-founded Al-Anon Family Groups to help family members of alcoholics.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alcoholic
Cite this Entry
“Alcoholic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alcoholic. Accessed 18 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
alcoholic
1 of 2 adjective
al·co·hol·ic
ˌal-kə-ˈhȯl-ik
-ˈhäl-
1
: of, relating to, or containing alcohol
2
: affected with alcoholism
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-
1
a
: of, relating to, or caused by alcohol
alcoholic hepatitis
b
: containing alcohol
2
: affected with alcoholism
alcoholic
2 of 2 noun
: one affected with alcoholism
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