alcoholic

1 of 2

adjective

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

alcoholically

ˌal-kə-ˈhȯ-li-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈhä-

adverb

alcoholic

2 of 2

noun

: a person affected with alcoholism

Synonyms

Noun

• alkie [slang]
• alky
• boozehound
• boozer
• dipsomaniac
• drinker
• drunk
• drunkard
• inebriate
• juicehead [slang]
• juicer [slang]
• lush
• rummy
• soak
• soaker
• sot
• souse
• tippler
• toper
• tosspot

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

Tony Scott's Man On Fire casts Washington as the less-than-heroic John Creasy, a former CIA agent turned alcoholic mercenary. —Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024

Bad Santa follows an alcoholic scammer named Willie (Thornton) who poses as a mall Santa and plots to rob the stores on Christmas Eve with his sidekick, Marcus (Tony Cox). —Lydia Price, People.com, 22 Dec. 2024

Noun

Everyone knows someone who drinks to excess, especially with 29 million alcoholics in the United States. —Jane Hillstrom, The Mercury News, 21 Dec. 2024

My fascination with firsthand accounts began in my teens, shaped by my experiences as the daughter of an addict and alcoholic and sister of someone with bipolar disorder. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1852, in the meaning defined above

Kids 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

alcoholically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

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- 

1

a

: of, relating to, or caused by alcohol

alcoholic hepatitis

b

: containing alcohol

2

: affected with alcoholism

alcoholically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

alcoholic

2 of 2 noun

: one affected with alcoholism