ethanol

noun

eth·​a·​nol ˈe-thə-ˌnȯl  -ˌnōl 

 British also  ˈē-

: a colorless volatile flammable liquid C₂H₅OH that is the intoxicating agent in liquors and is also used as a solvent and in fuel

called also ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol

Examples of ethanol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Strain's causes of death were listed as drowning and ethanol intoxication, and his manner of death was deemed accidental. —Stepheny Price, Fox News, 24 Mar. 2025

She’s also being investigated in connection with the death of John Jenkins, a 55-year-old Maryland man who was found dead from cocaine and ethanol toxicity in a French Quarter hotel on Dec. 15, according to NOLA.com. —David Matthews, New York Daily News, 19 Mar. 2025

Jenkins’ death was ruled accidental, attributed to cocaine and ethanol toxicity. —Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2025

There may even be an evolutionary angle: Many animals consume alcohol (called ethanol when it is encountered naturally). —Dylan Scott, Vox, 14 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ethanol

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• fireball
• gasohol
• guaiacol

Kids Definition

ethanol

noun

eth·​a·​nol ˈeth-ə-ˌnȯl 

-ˌnōl

: a colorless flammable easily evaporated liquid that is used to dissolve things and that is the substance in fermented and distilled liquors that can make one drunk

called also ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol

Medical Definition

ethanol

noun

eth·​a·​nol ˈeth-ə-ˌnȯl  -ˌnōl 

: a colorless volatile flammable liquid C₂H₅OH that is the intoxicating agent in liquors and is also used as a solvent

called also ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol

see alcohol sense 1