alcoholic
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.containing alcohol, like beer, wine, or vodka.
adj.containing a significant or intoxicating amount of ethyl alcohol.
Simple“The restaurant serves both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for the party.”
In context“The brewery produces a wide range of alcoholic beverages, though they have recently expanded into the growing market for zero-percent alternatives.”
UsageUsually placed before the noun it describes.
SynonymsAntonymsnon alcoholicsoft - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.related to alcohol or the effects it has on the body.
adj.pertaining to, caused by, or characteristic of alcohol or alcoholism.
Simple“The doctor explained the risks of alcoholic liver disease to the patient.”
In context“The patient presented with several symptoms of alcoholic gastritis, necessitating a strict dietary and lifestyle intervention.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
n.someone who is addicted to alcohol and cannot stop drinking it.
n.a person suffering from alcoholism; an individual with a chronic dependency on alcoholic beverages.
Simple“He has been a recovering alcoholic for ten years and hasn't had a drink since.”
In context“The support group provides a safe environment for recovering alcoholics to share their experiences and maintain their sobriety.”
Teacher's tipWhile 'alcoholic' is a standard term, in modern medical contexts, phrases like 'person with alcohol use disorder' are often preferred to avoid labeling the individual by their condition.
SynonymsAntonymsteetotaler
Etymology tree Akkadian 𒎎𒋆𒁉𒍣𒁕 (guḫlum)bor. Aramaic כוחלא (kuḥlā)bor. Arabic كُحْل (kuḥl) Andalusian Arabic اَلْكُحُول (al-kuḥūl)bor. Medieval Latin alcoholder. Middle English alcofol English alcohol Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Italic *-kos Latin -cus Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English alcoholic First attested 1891, from alcohol + -ic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.