tequila

noun

te·​qui·​la tə-ˈkē-lə 

tā-

plural tequilas

: a Mexican liquor made chiefly from the fermented sap of the blue agave that has been subjected to two separate distillations

Tequila is a form of mezcal that enjoys a regional appellation—it must be produced in Tequila, Jalisco (a state in Mexico), entirely from the nectar from the blue agave plant.

—Justin Grant

The most important difference between fine tequila and ordinary tequila is that the good stuff is made from 100 percent blue agave—the desert succulent that is pressure cooked, then fermented.

—Food & Wine

Note: Tequila is often distinguished from other mezcals because it can only be made from the blue agave and has more restrictive guidelines regarding its production.

"We're going to offer wine, beer, cocktails, a lot of tequila and mezcal, and margaritas on tap," said [bar] owner Patrick Todd.

—Jordyn Noennig

Examples of tequila in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One afternoon, actors Denise Crosby (plays Tasha Yar and Sela) and Nana Visitor (plays Kira Nerys) led a group in making tequila and mezcal cocktails. —Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025

Local master distillers, or tequila maestras, oversee the double-distillation process, resulting in a spirit that sings authentically of its origins while exceeding the expectations of today’s high-end tequila connoisseurs. —Mr. Sancho Pancho Contributor, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025

That is a significant amount of time to spend in this type of wood, and the tequila is better off for it. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2025

Lisa Barlow, the tequila connoisseur in a land of soda pops, has been spotted in a completely different state during the filming of the upcoming season of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. —Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Tequila, town in Jalisco state, Mexico

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tequila

• tequila sunrise

Rhymes for tequila

• drosophila
• philomela
• sheila

Kids Definition

tequila

noun

te·​qui·​la tə-ˈkē-lə 

tā-

: a Mexican liquor made from the fermented juice of an agave